The post you are reporting:
Yes, needless to say there is a double standard. One for the ports which is not of their choosing and one for the ferries which is of their choosing.
The ports are required to make every effort to accommodate any traffic that is offered. As can be seen, Dover, and all the other ports where this highly unwelcome trade has turned up, have very unwillingly had to make the effort to facilitate passage. It is the last thing they want and they are very relieved when it goes elsewhere, presumably entirely due to the protesters, all credit to them.
The ferry operators, on the other hand, can choose what they permit to be transported on their ferries. One thing that they adamantly refuse to accept is live exports. Racehorses, breeding stock, etc, are OK but are very few and far between. On the extremely rare occasions when they are carried, the Captain is called by walkie talkie from the loading officeer on the cardeck and asked if they can be accepted. He then decides if this is permissible given current weather conditions, bearing in mind that all the ferries are very large vessels with stabilizer fins. If he decides that conditions are acceptable for a comfortable passage then he gives the go ahead.
