Clanky, I've recently learned that you are an experienced maritime engineer so I would dare not question your knowledge of ship design or management.
I would firstly just make clear (since we all know which barge operator I'm referring to) that my questioning their method of operation is NOT relating to the safe operation of their vessels. They quite rightly have a good safety record.
My concern is their commercial ability. I am not at all impressed with their current CEO who I regard as lacklustre, weak, lacking vision and basically boring. Too many industries think consolidation is the sole way to go; it is not. consolidation will buy you time to recover a business, but it's not something you should rely on forever.
Take for example them finishing western channel routes- all taken over by competitors that are doing quite nicely on that now. Indeed, when they saw competition on the Cherbourg route, the other lot were ready (I believe) to finish, only for this lot to announce they were finishing themselves... They won a commercial war and then- handed it all over.
I think that 'this ferry company' has put too much faith in just two vessels. They are basing their future on freight trade- right at the wrong time. Personally I believe that this lot are likely to be sold off in a merger with another company.
Perhaps someone will buy out this lot and another ailing barge operator based in Calais and turn it into one profitable operator???
