Industrial action added to delays caused by the berthing problems

Months of delays followed the collapse of a gangway at a berth on 8 February. Other berths were closed one by one for safety checks and repairs.

Calais said it now has four berths working and is confident it can cope with the huge volume of summer traffic.

But P&O said a multi-million pound claim was under way against the port.

Freight customers

"People have suffered enormous delays and lost a lot of money," said P&O spokesman Chris Layming.

"Calais is an open port and French law says you publish a timetable and a tariff you have to be able to provide the service.

"We have an obligation to our customers and contracts with freight customers and so on and we weren't able to operate."

The delays at Calais led to Operation Stack being used regularly on the M20 in Kent to control traffic heading into Dover.

Strikes by SeaFrance crews across the Channel caused further frustration.

Calais Chamber of Commerce, which runs the port, said it would take about three months to repair the damaged berth, which was still closed.

Chamber president Jean-Marc Puissessaux said he could not comment on the claim for compensation.

"That will be decided by the insurance companies and the court," he said.