UK may use navy to bring home stranded citizens

[Turborama]

Source: Reuters

Britain said on Sunday it was considering using the Royal Navy and requisitioning merchant ships to ferry home citizens stranded abroad by the closure of much of European airspace because of volcanic ash.

The response to the crisis is threatening to become a domestic political issue ahead of a general election on May 6 and with the ruling Labour Party trailing in opinion polls.

Business minister Peter Mandelson said the government was also investigating the possibility of using Spanish airports not covered by the air traffic ban as a hub for citizens stuck further south or in north America.

"We need to look at every single logistical option for getting our people back home," Mandelson said after an emergency meeting of ministers and officials chaired by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE63H2FN20100418

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Peter Mandelson: 'We need to get people home'

Source: The Guardian

The government tonight launched an unprecedented plan to bring home an estimated 200,000 people stranded abroad by the volcanic ash cloud – including possible deployment of the Royal Navy – as European airlines staged a series of successful test flights and urged governments to reassess flying restrictions.

In a move rarely seen during a general election, Gordon Brown recalled the most senior members of his cabinet from the campaign trail to tackle the aviation crisis. On the steps of Downing Street the business secretary, Lord Mandelson, flanked by the foreign secretary, David Miliband, transport secretary, Lord Adonis, cabinet minister Tessa Jowell and security minister Lord West, unveiled a plan to repatriate British residents. Government sources said around 200,000 Britons were in temporary exile, according to unofficial airline estimates.

The government measures include:

• Deploying the Royal Navy, cruise ships and commercial shipping to transport passengers to the UK if the crisis worsens.

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/18/peter-mandelson-iceland-volcano-navy

[elleng]

1. WHAT A GREAT STORY!

The Royal Navy!

And P&O FERRIES!

"The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company".

http://www.poferries.com/

'We apologise for the inconvenience but our website is currently experiencing heavy traffic, therefore we advise calling our contact centre with enquiries or to book a crossing on any route.'

And there's also little boats!

Normandy Invasion, June 1944
Crossing the English Channel on "D-Day", 6 June 1944
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-eur/normandy/nor3.htm

[daleo]

2. It's like a new Dunkirk.

Time to watch Mrs. Miniver.

[amandabeech]

3. What a great movie!

I hope that TCM shows it again soon.