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Monday, July 15, 2013

Anger vented on Olsen ferry delays on Sunday

Last night's Fred Olsen Express ferry was more than three hours late arriving in the harbour of San Sebastian de La Gomera despite perfect weather conditions. Subsequently the last sailing from Los Cristianos on Tenerife by the same ferry was delayed by a similar amount of time and when it arrived on La Gomera well after midnight the public transport system had shut down for the night, leaving travellers stranded in the port of San Sebastian. Similar delays were experienced on previous Sundays and it seems that the new Fred.Olsen summer ferry schedule itself is flawed on weekends. I had to wait a very long time myself in smouldering afternoon heat  in Los Cristianos without being given any information by the company on Sunday, 30th of June.
Passengers are now demanding a more realistic ferry schedule and better information. Imagine having to catch a flight that night !
Below is a short video of travellers venting their anger with a concert of car horns and whistles as the ferry finally arrives in the port of San Sebastian.

UPDATE:
The Fred. Olsen Express ferry company have issued a statement sincerely apologising for the inconvenience caused by the delays.
The company says that the cause was a problem with one of the engines of the ferry 'Benchijigua Express' which resulted in slower than normal speed of the vessel. The problem existed since June 29th and they hoped to have it resolved very soon.
They didn't say why it took them more than two weeks to inform the public. Were they afraid that passengers would have booked sailings with the competing Naviera Armas ferries?

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