Ferry Company's Profound Apology After Inappropriate Broadcast
The ferry operator DFDS has issued a sincere apology after children were left distressed when a pornographic film was accidentally broadcast on a ship travelling from France to Sussex. The incident occurred aboard a vessel sailing the Dieppe to Newhaven route at the end of October.
The company stated it is "very sorry" for the understandable upset and anger caused by the mistake, which saw an adult film played on lounge televisions.
Chaotic Scene as Children Flee Lounge
According to passenger accounts, the disturbing incident unfolded after a group of travellers had been watching a Formula One grand prix on the TV in the recliner lounge area. Once the race concluded, the explicit content began playing instead.
One anonymous passenger described the chaotic scene to the Argus newspaper in Brighton, stating that children ran out of the lounge "screaming" upon exposure to what was described as "hardcore porn." Parents quickly emerged, urgently asking a crew member to address the situation. Although the passenger could not see the screen, they confirmed the audio was clearly audible throughout the area.
Technical Fault and Swift Response
The embarrassing blunder happened during a period of disruption. A DFDS spokesperson explained that the ferry had been forced to return to France due to a technical fault at Newhaven port, causing a significant delay.
The company clarified that the crew was completely unaware the film was scheduled to be broadcast. "Once the crew were alerted to the content, the channel was swiftly changed," a spokesperson confirmed. The staff member ultimately turned the television off to end the broadcast.
DFDS has taken corrective action to prevent a repeat, confirming that the channel responsible has been removed from the list of available stations on the boat. The company emphatically stated, "This will not happen again." The passenger involved summed up the unusual event as "a bit mad," adding that people were left "really disgruntled" by the entire ferry crossing experience.
