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  Very interesting figures quoted by Roger. As with Pat Sherratt, I spent an hour or so mulling over the figures on the DHB website trying to reconcile these with their figure of +6% for Road Haulage Vehicles (RHV). Puzzling to say the least.
  
  The Eurotunnel results for 2010 state that there has been an estimated 16% contraction in the number of trucks carried in the overall cross-channel market compared to 2007 as a result of the economic crisis. They have now regained their share of this market after suffering the loss of most of this traffic to the ferries throughout 2009 after the disastrous fire in September 2008.
  
  Re the reduction in the number of ship entries. There is still gross over capacity in the cross channel market. It was quoted as 180% a few months ago. Since then, LD Lines have pulled out of the Dover-Boulogne route taking two ships out of the equation. SeaFrance are in meltdown but look to be rescued by further funds from SNCF and, rather surprisingly, are still running the Nord Pas de Calais in addition to the Rodin/Berlioz/Moliere. The Renoir and Cezanne have been laid up for years and do not enter the equation. P&O are running the same number of ships as previously, with the Spirit of Britain replacing the Pride of Dover. The relief vessel European Endeavour has been transferred elsewhere which will have reduced the number of ship entries slightly. DFDS continue to run their three superferries as normal.
  
  In summation, freight seems to be blighted for years to come. Tourist traffic is on the increase, possibly due to people holidaying closer to home in this time of economic gloom plus the effects of the turmoil in the Arab world. Although freight is the mainstay of the ferries, the ferry companies look upon the tourist market as the source of expansion in the short term. Similarly, Eurotunnel is bringing back into service a passenger shuttle which it mothballed some years ago.

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