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  Re the comment about getting up to full speed, the ferries have so much installed power that they are up to full speed within a few ships lengths. We are not talking about supertankers burdened with the inertia of several hundred thousand tons of oil to get up to speed and several miles to bring to a stop again. The big problem for the ferries, and especially the Dieppe Seaways, is trying to maintain the schedule whilst burning the absolute minimum amount of fuel. This is the crucial element in the profitability of the operation and every avenue is explored to reduce consumption.
  
  Dieppe Seaways, ex Moliere, is one of a number of very fast conventional ferries which were constructed under the Superfast brand for a Greek shipping company for use in the Mediterranean. With the hike in fuel prices, most of them have been sold for operation in other parts of the world - Canada, Australia, the Baltic, etc. In our part of the world, Britanny Ferries have one running to Spain and Stena have made a lovely job of putting two on the Belfast-Cairnryan route.
  
  Re the My Ferry Link cash flow problem: The union run SCOP operating the vessels is due somewhat less than 10m Euros in redundancy payments to ex SeaFrance staff. This is presently being withheld by the receiver for some reason. It is of no consequence as Eurotunnel own the ships and with their immense financial muscle they will find a way round this. The SCOP is only a useful ruse to allow them to enter the ferry business which overwhelmingly comprises their main competition.
  
  Re running to Boulogne: Euroferries are making their usual noises about starting a Ramsgate-Boulogne service with a fast craft. They have been saying this for several years with no result. Apparently they have now put a downpayment on bringing a fast craft from Australia so we shall have to see if anything genuinely transpires this time.

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