zippy Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 the ramp on the ben is stuck (the one between the upper car deck and the exit ramp) It stuck when they tried to unload the cars teatime yesterday. My car has now been to heysham and back without me and unless I'm informed soon, it will be leaving again for heysham just before 9.00 this morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Git Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Have they given you a free hire car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy Posted February 18, 2006 Author Share Posted February 18, 2006 Have they given you a free hire car? Just been contacted (in last 10 mins) - one is on its way. Still no ideas as to when the ramp will be fixed, I wouldn't like to be in their situation, it'll be pretty busy being the start of half term plus expensive for the all the hire cars they'll need . My car has just left for another trip across to heysham, I might pop and visit when its back in port tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Git Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Good job you weren't going for a driving holiday / business in the UK, would have been a right nuisance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy Posted February 18, 2006 Author Share Posted February 18, 2006 Good job you weren't going for a driving holiday / business in the UK, would have been a right nuisance Just come back from a driving holiday, christ imagine getting stuck at heysham at the start of your holiday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 can recommend the old pub in Lower Heysham village - good food and I was informed good beer; pity doesnt open till 12 noon which means probably too late for a meal before check in but worth a lunch stop if you have time. The old church and ruins of the 8th century chapel complex are also worth seeing if you get to Heysham early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Smelly Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Get some compo for the hassle you have had to put up with. Just shows u how they sort a problem out, its probably only a hydralic problem, what do they pay the engineers for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alias Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Get some compo for the hassle you have had to put up with. Just shows u how they sort a problem out, its probably only a hydralic problem, what do they pay the engineers for? Experienced engineer I see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cholmondley-Warner Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Having actually viewed the problem on the vessel in Douglas Harbour this morning, I can confirm that the problem is not with the hydraulic systems but is due to a hydraulic ram which has sheared. The ram actuates the lowering and raising of the ramp which allows access from the top to bottom deck. The ram is massive - over 50ft long when extended - and I would imagine is not something you can simply buy "off the shelf" removing and replacing it is a major operation and will be carried out whilst the vessel is travelling. The shearing of the ram could not be foreseen and is no ones fault. A compensation claim is not applicable as there has been no negligence, and so any assistance from the Steam Packet would be seen as a goodwill payment. I have two vehicles stranded on the top deck and have received excellent communication and cooperation from the company regarding the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexMcC Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Looks like she might have to go into drydock early then. They could either crane off the cargo or perhaps use a double level ramp? She'd have to sail to Holyhead, and whether they can do something at the stern to make it work is another story- Edit - Can't Happen Probably a crane job then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_kitty Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 My Dad works for B&Q and all their trucks with deliveries are stuck on the boat too, its going to be hectic when all the trucks finally do get to B&Q Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackajah Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 They're craning the cars off right now. Can't see them doing the same with the wagons though. Ooops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cholmondley-Warner Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 I thinks most of the cars were craned off onto the Edward Pier and saw the Marks and Spencer trailer being emptied by hand into two Manx Independent lorries so M&S will be fully stocked tomorrow, there looks to be about 3 Tesco trailers among others up on the deck but couldn't see any action there. The story is the repairs will take at least 5 days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 I feel sorry for any of the supermarkets as most use the Just in Time stock control and mistakes and problems like this can have huge effects on businesses, Hope none of them had fresh food eithier, By the time it got to Tesco/MandS it probably wouldn't be worth much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 I feel sorry for any of the supermarkets as most use the Just in Time stock control and mistakes and problems like this can have huge effects on businesses, Hope none of them had fresh food eithier, By the time it got to Tesco/MandS it probably wouldn't be worth much. That's probsably my main gripe with Tesco's that they use JIT stock control without taking into account the stretch of water between here and there! Have alternative arrangements been put in place to carry over goods while the Ben is only partially operational? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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