Despite the chaos reported daily in the French port of Calais, P&O Ferries reported that August was its busiest month in 12 years.
The ferry company boarded nearly 1.2 million passengers in August and transported them between Dover and Calais. The passenger load had not been this high since August 2003.
The frequent disruption and closures of the Channel Tunnel forced many holidaymakers to use the ferry instead.
P&O offers 58 sailings every day between the two ports. Its larger ferries, put into operation four years ago, can hold 2,000 people which is twice the number than standard ferries can take.
For freight, July turned out to be the business month “in modern history”, according to chief exec Helen Deeble.
She said this summer “has been one of the most challenging ever for cross-Channel travel”.
Adding to the company’s concerns was the two month dispute of French ferry workers in Calais over possible redundancies at MyFerryLink.
