LONDON -- Ferry services from the Port of Calais resumed early Monday morning after another blockade by French workers left travellers who were trying to cross the English Channel stranded for hours.
Sunday night's blockade happened as a result of action by workers from the now dissolved company MyFerryLink who used lifeboats to stop ships from docking in the port, according to multiple reports.
The protest prevented people from boarding ferries on both sides of the Channel. It coincided with the busy August bank holiday weekend when thousands of British travelers were heading home after summer holidays, including families with school children.
Passengers waiting for a ferry tweeted their disappointment at the situation on Sunday night.
10hr drive to Calais for @POFerries. Arrived early, no boarding due to a blockade. Why no warning or text? #FUPO pic.twitter.com/cZLBsJpfPx— Black Spiders (@black_spiders) August 30, 2015
@POferriesupdate Absolutely appalled at the port of Calais' inability to deal with a few French blokes and a dinghy #calais— Michael Ramsden (@Rambo90) August 30, 2015
@POferriesupdate queued for 3 hours not much info given, feel sorry for families with kids. In hotel now, hope I can get on in morning ok.— Tara Panice (@TaraPanice) August 30, 2015
@Juliasongue @DFDSSeaways we were booked on the 11pm #dfds from Calais, sent to Dunkirk, been in the Q for 90 mins and not reached check in!— Pidyn (@pidyn) August 30, 2015
Ferry companies P&O and DFDS Seaways both tweeted early Monday morning to say their services were resuming.
Thank you for all your tweets today, we will be back at 09:00 tomorrow to answer you customer service questions— DFDS Seaways UK (@DFDSSeaways) August 30, 2015
The Port of Calais is now open again - our services are subject to delays— P&O Ferries Updates (@POferriesupdate) August 30, 2015
Sunday night's blockade is the latest disruption to cross-Channel traffic this summer, which has seen repeated problems with worker protests and tensions over migrants trying to make their way to Britain.
Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart tweeted her regret about the situation.
On m'informe que le Port de Calais serait à nouveau bloqué.Je regrette que le Port soit pris en otage.Je demande au GVTde réagir fermement.— Natacha BOUCHART (@NatachaBouchart) August 30, 2015
Additional reporting by The Associated Press.