Background: Ramsgate has a fully-equipped ferry port, built some years ago on land reclaimed from the sea West of the current harbour. The ferry port had freight and passenger sailings for a number of years, until the previous company bailed on the arrangement with lots of years left on the lease. Since then, the port has survived on a limited number of freight-only ferry sailings, while the harbour has to be constantly dredged due to sand infill from ocean currents. In short, this is not a shining example of local industry or success.
This year, there were rumours, talked up by the local MP Dr. Steven Ladyman, that EuroFerries would restart passenger services from Ramsgate to Boulougne in France this Autumn. This seemed to be a positive development, except that no date was announced to begin with, then no news was forthcoming other than postponements, accompanied by vague assurances. When local blogger East Cliff Richard linked to another local blog where a commenter referred to a rumour that EuroFerries might have "gone bust", EuroFerries threatened him with legal action. They did the same to the local blogger whose comments section contained the alleged rumour.
I think that I understand the policy being adopted here by EuroFerries (who are very much still in business, by the way). It's called either Shoot The Common Carrier (if you're feeling charitable) or School Playground Bullying (if like me, you are not feeling quite as charitable).
Most recently, EuroFerries has admitted that it will not be starting services this year after all. Sailings are now not planned to start until March 2010.
The net result of all of the false starts is a reduction in the credbility of the local MP, and deepening local skepticism about the likelihood that there will be a resumption of passenger ferry services out of Ramsgate.
As for EuroFerries themselves, any organization that thinks that threatening local bloggers whose comment sections contain statements of which they disapprove is a good way to go about its business is either stupid, being badly advised, or both. No good can come of threatening local commentators with legal action, especially since in this case, they were not even the ones making any allegations - the allegations were being made by an anonymous commenter to a blog. It merely makes Euroferries look like a typical bunch of corporate bullies - and nobody likes corporate bullies.
UPDATE - I rewrote parts of this posting to better explain what I think actually occurred to cause EuroFerries to threaten the two bloggers in question with legal action. My conclusion that EuroFerries is engaging in bullying, hiding behind UK libel laws, still stands. I repeat - just because you can do something does not mean that you should. Smarter thinking should have prevailed.
UPDATE 2 - There is a discussion forum about the Euroferries initiative here. I rest my case about the general level of skepticism...