Does a settee/sofa count as a “couchette” on boat in ref to “access to” when using
Ferry mode
Reason being we use Ferry mode on the NI/Cairnryan boats when we’ve completed deliveries in NI that day and going on 1930/2000 Scotland boats loaded for next day but VERY tight sometimes to get parked/find space in laybye for daily rest within 15hr spreadover especially heading North on A77@ 2200+ until maybe Girvan.
Rumour that Vosa in Glenluce are fining drivers who have used ferry mode on these boats as they say no access to bed/couchette on boat crossing but surely a settee/sofa could be argued
Big Truck:
Does a settee/sofa count as a “couchette” on boat in ref to “access to” when using
Ferry mode
Reason being we use Ferry mode on the NI/Cairnryan boats when we’ve completed deliveries in NI that day and going on 1930/2000 Scotland boats loaded for next day but VERY tight sometimes to get parked/find space in laybye for daily rest within 15hr spreadover especially heading North on A77@ 2200+ until maybe Girvan.
Rumour that Vosa in Glenluce are fining drivers who have used ferry mode on these boats as they say no access to bed/couchette on boat crossing but surely a settee/sofa could be argued
Nope, a couchette is the name given to a bed on a train. It’s a seat that folds out flat to form a bed. The law maker’s thinking is that they want you to lie flat to get some sleep thus why you must have access to a bunk(boat) or couchette(train).
So laying back on a reclining chair is not going to work.
However … there are beds on the NI/Cairnryan Stena, double beds at that but you have to pay for them. It’s £35 for a double bed cabin with TV + tea and coffee. They would need booked in advance to secure one and you get 25% off with your ticket. SO…is that having “access” to a bunk, even if you haven’t purchased one? I don’t know.
I’m thinking of the long benches in the drivers “quiet” lounge on the P&O plus the long benches at the back of the ends of the truckers restaurant on the Stena??
You can lay flat on those and I’ve had a right few nice zzzzz on them too when on the late night/graveyard shift boats!!!
Might have to wait and argue my point if pulled!!!
Big Truck:
Does a settee/sofa count as a “couchette” on boat in ref to “access to” when using
Ferry mode
No they don’t.
Also, there is no such thing as ferry mode. The ferry option only marks the data with the reason you are interrupting your daily rest in the same way a pen does on a tacho chart. It’s not some magical mode.
Big Truck:
Does it mention anything in the regulations ref interrupting a break to board a ferry that ferry journey must be min 3hrs+■■
No and a lot of drivers seem to think you must have at least 3 hours rest on a boat and then 9 off but the regulations state that as long as the daily rest totals to 11 hours then you are completely legal so it shouldn’t matter if you have 2 hours rest waiting to board the boat then 1 and a half hours rest on a boat and then 7 and a half hours rest when you get off the boat
No,
but when they pull you in at Glenluce heading East about 15mile from Cairnryan and you’ve "had a shunt on/off boat on digi tach,
tech no bed access etc.
They ain’t stupid!!!
… there are beds on the NI/Cairnryan Stena, double beds at that but you have to pay for them. It’s £35 for a double bed cabin with TV + tea and coffee. They would need booked in advance to secure one and you get 25% off with your ticket. SO…is that having “access” to a bunk, even if you haven’t purchased one? I don’t know.
