Channel Crossings for Livestock
In September 2006 P&O Ferries decided to stop carrying livestock lorries across the English Channel. This decision made it very difficult to send health specific loads of livestock to Europe or into the UK. Following discussion with the National Beef Association (NBA) P&O reviewed this decision.
P&O will carry livestock on cargo ferries between Dover and Calais and only on this the shortest route.
They will only carry breeding and milking livestock. The livestock does not have to be pedigree.
They will only accept bookings in either direction for livestock that are made by the NBA. The NBA is responsible for guaranteeing that the livestock are for breeding or milking. This lays a considerable responsibility on the NBA; if loads are not for breeding or milking P&O are likely to stop carrying livestock and after many years of exclusion from the market place it could become very difficult to ship higher health livestock.
In order for the NBA to meet its commitment to P&O it will require information that exporters/importers may consider to be confidential, but it will be cheaper for all if information is supplied to the NBA by email rather than the employment of a 'policeman' at Dover and Calais.
The NBA will not book a crossing until it has received payment for the crossings.
No bookings will be accepted without completing a Livestock Vehicle – Booking Request and Declaration Form
This has been requested by the Shipping Company. (Please note: A restriction of 3 lorries per crossing/boat)
Download Form »
Bookings:
Please book through the NBA Office.
The National Beef Association
The Mart Centre,
Tyne Green,
Hexham,
Northumberland
NE46 3SG.
Tel: 01434 601005
Fax: 01434 601008
Email:helen@nationalbeefassociation.com
The office is usually open Monday to Friday 0900 to 1630 hours.
If you have further queries after the office is closed, you may contact Helen on 07974 455249 (1700 - 2100 hours) or Kim on 01313361754 or 07967 698936 after 2100 hours.
The following prices (inclusive of fares for 2 drivers but excluding VAT) apply:
| Loaded vehicles: | Unloaded Vehicles: |
| Vehicles up to 9.5 metres - £317.50 | Vehicles up to 9.5 metres - £220.00 |
| Vehicles between 9.5 and 12.5 metres - £361.25 | Vehicles between 9.5 and 12.5 metres - £235.00 |
| Vehicles over 12.5 metres - £405.00 | Vehicles over 12.5 metres - £275.00 |
Departure times are currently:
| Dover to Calais: | Calais to Dover: |
| 07.30 hrs (not Monday or Friday) | 05.20 hrs |
| 11.45 hrs | 10.10 hrs |
| 16.05 hrs | 13.30 hrs |
| 20.25 hrs | 14.40 hrs |
| 01.15 hrs | 18.40 hrs |
| 19.10 hrs | |
| 23.55 hrs |
We need the following information to make a booking:
- Your Business name and contact details.
- Route you want e.g. Dover to Calais loaded and return Calais Dover unloaded.
- Vehicle Registration number
- Vehicle type. e.g. twin axle lorry
- Vehicle length in meters.
- Vehicle owner. e.g. LV Hauliers Ltd.
- Description of load e.g. 47 Breeding cattle
- A list of the livestock on the load showing; Full Individual ID, Sex and Breed. At the point of booking you may have to list more animals than you are taking.
- Date and time of crossings.
- In order to carry out our task of ensuring that there are no store or slaughter animals on the load we need the contact details of purchasers and sellers of all animals.
Once the booking is made it is valid for 14 days.
The NBA will not book a crossing until it has received payment for the crossing.
For automated payments the bank details are;
Account Name. National Beef Association
Account No. 00421037
Sort Code 30-95-41
Lloyds Bank plc, Malvern. WR14 4QG.
IBAN - GB83LOYD30954100421037
BIC - LOYDGB21139
A credit card is also acceptable.
NBA GUIDANCE NOTE TO IMPORTERS:
Blue Tongue Virus - Buyers must be cautious when importing livestock into the UK:
All breeders and livestock agents must take precautions if they intend to import livestock into the UK from Europe.
Because there are a number of different BTV strains circulating around countries in Europe and it is the industries responsibility not to introduce a new strain of BTV or bring animals into the UK that could be positive for BTV8.
As a precautionary measure, importers should make sure animals are vaccinated against BTV8 infection and as an additional measure, to check the animals are not positive for circulating disease before they are imported, a PCR test should be completed either 35 days after vaccination or just before the animals are to be imported into Britain.
Although this is not an official requirement for animals moving within a protection zone for BTV8, any animal that arrives in Britain, which are subsequently found to be positive for BTV8, endangers all the animals standing on holding, as well as all neighboring herds and will introduce the virus into local midges and this is unacceptable.
Any animal imported into Britain and then found to be positive for another BTV strain, for example 1, 4, or 6, etc, will be slaughtered, possibly at the owner's expense and without compensation for the animal(s).
Livestock can only move into Britain from another BTV8 protection zone (or restriction zone) in Europe. Livestock can not move into Britain from a protection zone for another BTV strain, for example strain 1 or strain 6, unless they meet the conditions of Annex three of the EU Legislation, which are very difficult to meet.
Animals can only move from the British BTV8 protection zone to Ireland, north or south, if the animals are vet vaccinated and certified. The animals can move after 60 days of vaccination or 35 days after a PCR test. Unvaccinated cattle can not move to Ireland for slaughter.
