HOVERSPEED is to appeal against a ú5,000 penalty levied against it for not paying ú500,000 worth of fines, imposed for carrying illegal immigrants into the country.
The fines result from the UK’s Carrier Liability Act, which fines operators ú2,000 for each immigrant brought into the UK, albeit unwittingly.
The fast-ferry operator has only paid ú37,500 of the money it owes, in protest at what it sees as an unfair law.
It went to court last week to fight the Act but lost and must now pay ú100,000 costs. It plans to appeal again.
Hoverspeed spokesman Kevin Charles said: “We disagree with the Carriers’ Liability Act, as does everyone else, but we put our necks on the line and took it to the law for a decision.The court went against us, but we are appealing. We want a referral at the European Court of Justice.”
n Hoverspeed is gearing up for the launch of its Newhaven-Dieppe crossing with a huge press advertising campaign. It will start just before the first sailing on April 10.