Intresting read :
keeptalkinggreece.com/201…-their-trucks/
I have tried copy/paste again ,but it still wont work (maybe someone more computer savi than me can tidy it up ) It basically says that 5 drivers were asleep in their cabs and one who escaped the flames with his wife didnt see the others again ,it also went on to say the death toll could be between 20 to 40.
kerbut:
Intresting read :
keeptalkinggreece.com/201…-their-trucks/
The link doesn’t work at this end.
We’re sorry, but the page you were trying to access does not exist.
It was either deleted or removed. It’s also possible that the link you clicked on has an error in it. Please click back in your browser to return to the page you were on, or use the search box to find what you are looking for.
Just found another way to get into it ,go to the page ,then search box on top right ,enter Norman Atlantic and its the 1st item down dated 30 December.
Its not surprising though is it. I often used to see drivers emerge from their bunks in trucks parked next to me on the Dover-Calais ferry once I’d returned to the vehicle for disembarkation.
Here… link to the article proper…
keeptalkinggreece.com/2014/1 … ir-trucks/
sounds like a hell of a shonky ferry outfit!! 
B…
tagged: car deck, driver, Greece, lorries, MEGA TV, Norman Atlantic, sleep, survivor, testimony, truck, Yiannis Vlyssidis
Norman Atlantic: Rescued driver says drivers were “allowed” to sleep in their trucks
Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Very Mix
Although it is strictly forbidden, drivers were so to say “allowed” to sleep in their trucks and lorries in the car deck of the Norman Atlantic ferry. Speaking live to private Mega TV, driver Yiannis Vlyssidis admitted that he and his wife, but also quite a number of other drivers were sleeping in the car deck when fire broke out.
Vlyssidis said that the ferry was full packed, they could not find a free cabin to sleep and therefore they decided to sleep in the truck.
He said that he was awaken by the sound of an explosion and saw some flames, he woke up his wife and they tried to reach upper decks.
norman atlantic driver survivor
“I told my wife to keep the safety door open and I returned to the truck to get some shoes, pullovers, our passports, but it was impossible,” Vlyssidis described the couple’s escape from the fire and death. He added that they were barefoot and walking on hot ground.
The survivor added that he knew of three to five more drivers who were sleeping in their trucks and that he never saw them again.
He added that there was no emergency alarm ringing.
Yiannis Vlyssidis Testimony
“I heard an explosion from the truck tire and saw from the driver’s mirror that fire was spreading in the back and the area full of smoke.Together with my wife, in pajamas, got off the truck and ran to the door, before it closed. I left her behind to keep the door open and returned to the driver’s cabin to get phones, papers, shoes and clothes.
As soon as I opened the door I saw smoke to have wrapped everything. I turned around and run to the door.
We went barefoot on the deck. We tried to find some clothes or some shoes as the sheet iron was burning our feet.
There was no crew around. What we did we did it by ourselves. Apart from me, also other drivers were sleeping in the car deck. There were 3, 5 or more.I did not see some of them on the upper deck and I’m afraid that they died down there.”(via nonewsnewsblogspot.gr)
Based on his and other drivers testimonies, it looks as if it was not unusual that drivers could sleep in their trucks “at their own risk” with the ferry/ferries crew turning a blind eye to such practices.
This is strictly forbidden and safety doors owe to be closed and sealed when ferries are sailing.
One Greek driver and 3 Italian drivers have died on the Norman Atlantic. However it is not clear, if they were in the car deck.
As of Tuesday evening and according to Italian Coast Guard, the death toll has risen to 13. The number of missing is estimated between 23 and 40. Until now 32 Greeks have not contacted their families.
Also unclear is the total number of passengers on board of the ferry and the number of survivors as Italian and Greek authorities most likely have different lists, while the shipping company does not seem very helful in the issue, publishing mainly date about Greek passengers.
According to Greek media, 236 Greeks have been rescued. The information is based on briefing by the Greek Maritime Ministry and the Coast Guard.
Thanks for that D.O.M
I must admit we used to do that on the Pride of Cherbourg and the Pride of Portsmouth rather than sleep below the waterline.Also on the Coutance and Purbeck to Cherbourg we always tried to get onto the outside deck to sleep in the cab .
Robinhood , I see you are in New Brunswick, I know Canada is a big country ,but have you come accross my friend Fred Kendall ? , he has just bought a Freightliner and is now an owner driver again as he was before he emigrated .
kerbut:
Robinhood , I see you are in New Brunswick, I know Canada is a big country ,but have you come accross my friend Fred Kendall ? , he has just bought a Freightliner and is now an owner driver again as he was before he emigrated .
Sorry mate, never heard of him. Do you know what part of the country he’s in? Plenty of the boys in the expats forum live out in the western provinces.
Left that bit out ,he is in, Sailisbury, New Brunswick.
kerbut:
Left that bit out ,he is also in New Brunswick.
Then I’m sure we’ve been passing ships in the night many times but his name isn’t familiar. I just did a name search on facebook to see if anyone of that name is a mutual friend and he isn’t, but it did bring up on possible living down near Moncton who it says is from Slough?
He is from Slough ,then moved to Dorchester and now Salisbury , New Brunswick