FERRIES AROUND THE HARBOUR

I remember the ferry 'Chartres', seen in the first picture, leaving Newhaven on a midday sailing during the late 1980's on what was to be a terrible day weather-wise. A force 8+ gale was blowing and she required the 'Meeching Tug' to help push her bow round within the harbour.

Having committed to this crossing she was hit by a freak wave in mid channel which swamped her bridge causing certain failures of equipment. She finally managed to limp into Dieppe but unfortunately due to reduced steering capability she struck part of the harbour inner wall and was holed, which caused her to sink on the berth at the old terminal location.

Several of us who worked at Newhaven Marina could not understand how the Captain had decided to sail especially in view of the terrible weather forecast for that day! It would be interesting to know if anyone knows what made him sail.