Ships Ahoy! - Improving access on Stena Line ferries
Read all about one campaigner's actions to improve ferry access for everyone!
Ships Ahoy! December 2011
Campaigns Expert Reference Group member Mary Kinane recently helped Stena Line make improvements to their ramped access to their customer lifts on both their Birkenhead-Belfast ships - the Stena Mersey & the Stena Lagan.
You might not think that braving the Irish Sea in mid-November gale force winds was anyone's idea of a fun trip; however, this is exactly the route I took when I sailed to Belfast from Liverpool and back again last month. I visit Ireland about twice a year and, as taking the ferry suits me because I'm a scooter user, I had sailed on the same route last summer and had gotten unavoidably stuck at the apex of the (then) steep ramp leading to the passenger lift. Although at the time staff were able to help me to get "unstuck", I felt that I needed to give some constructive feedback to Stena Line so that other disabled passengers wouldn't have to experience the same fate. After that 1st trip I wrote to the head of Passenger Services of the (then) DFDS company. The Action for Access campaign provided the ideal background against which to do this. I had a very positive response from them which led to my taking this more recent trip.
As a result of my feedback and, after a number of e-mails were exchanged where we discussed technical issues, wheel base measurements and gradients, the ramp was adjusted so that a plateau was inserted where once there had been a steep upside-down V and I was able to use the ramp so much more easily the 2nd time around. On my return leg from Belfast to Liverpool, I brought along a disposable camera and am pictured here with Assistant Hotel Manager Hilda Pennington, along with a member of the boarding crew. Disabled motorists are boarded along with some of the big articulated lorries which frequently cross the Irish Sea on their way to other places, and staff are on hand to make sure that you get on board safely. I cannot thank Hilda enough for her helpfulness and hospitality both while I was boarding and using the ramp (pictured) but also while on board. Hilda couldn't do enough to make my crossing a comfortable one. Thanks are due also to Anita Jones who made the e-mail communications possible with the Liverpool-based staff, as well as to Vincent Hughes, David McLean and other members of crew of both ships. I have also been informed that Stena Line have plans to make more of their cabins disabled friendly (at present there is only one accessible cabin on Deck 5, and Deck 6 has no lift access so family rooms on that deck are not accessible).
This is a really good result and I hope that other disabled people will be encouraged to take this interesting trip across the Irish Sea - preferably in better weather! Belfast is an interesting city to visit, not to mention an ideal route to other parts of Ireland.
I feel glad that I took the trouble to write to Stena Line back in June. I think big companies need this kind of approach - if you don't put it in writing the good will that exists amongst ordinary members of staff to make improvements doesn't always translate itself easily into action where it is needed. I think the fact that I persisted with my correspondence and that I posed a number of questions against the background of the Equality Act (2010) made it possible to get a positive result and what can only be a win-win outcome for both the company and its passengers with disabilities. Thanks again to everyone for making my 2nd trip such a memorable one.
Mary Kinane, member of Campaigns Expert Reference Group.