Publications:
Access to Sea Travel - Information for Disabled People and People with Reduced Mobility

Foreword

1: Introduction
    1.1 Rights of disabled people
    1.2 Staff training

2: Planning your journey
    2.1 Where to find information
         2.1.1 Passports and visas
         2.1.2 Insurance
         2.1.3 Assistance dogs
         2.1.4 Medication
         2.1.5 Medical equipment
         2.1.6 Oxygen
    2.2 Booking arrangements
         2.2.1 Making a booking
         2.2.2 Advance notice
         2.2.3 Proof of need
         2.2.4 Self-sufficiency
    2.3 Service and facilities
         2.3.1 Services available on request
         2.3.2 Seat reservations
         2.3.3 Accessible cabin reservations
         2.3.4 Walking distances
         2.3.5 Meet and assist
         2.3.6 Dietary requirements
         2.3.7 Weight restrictions

3: Getting to the port
    3.1 General information
    3.2 Arrival by car - ferry passengers
    3.3 Arrival by car - foot and cruise passengers
    3.4 Arrival by courtesy bus
    3.5 Blue Badge holders

4: Facilities within the terminal
    4.1 General information
    4.2 The terminal building
         4.2.1 Assistance dog relief areas
         4.2.2 Security
         4.2.3 Gate facilities for foot passengers
         4.2.4 Boarding via the passenger gangway
         4.2.5 Boarding via the vehicle deck
         4.2.6 Wheelchairs

5: Facilities on board the ship
    5.1 General accessibility on board the ship
    5.2 Information desk
    5.3 Safety information
    5.4 Accessible toilets
    5.5 Passenger lounge areas
    5.6 Assistance dog relief areas
    5.7 Shopping, catering and other public facilities
    5.8 Emergency evacuation
         5.8.1 Evacuation procedures
         5.8.2 Emergency alarms
         5.8.3 Muster stations
         5.8.4 Evacuation of assistance dogs

6: Disembarkation and leaving the port
    6.1 Leaving the ship
    6.2 Immigration and customs
    6.3 Onward travel
    6.4 Return journey

7: If things go wrong

Annex A: Useful contacts

Annex B: Useful websites

Foreword

The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) is an independent body set up to advise the UK Government on the transport needs of disabled people.

Our aim is that disabled people should have the same transport choices and freedom to travel as non-disabled people. There has been significant progress in making this happen. Despite these improvements, disabled people continue to face daily obstacles when travelling.

DPTAC would like travelling on boats, ferries and ships (what we call passenger vessels) to be a realistic option for disabled people. Although we are not there yet, things have improved.

DPTAC is aware that a problem on just one stage of a journey can have a significant impact, seriously affecting the enjoyment of the experience. Encountering these problems may even dissuade disabled people from travelling at all in the future.

DPTAC has produced this guide to help make travelling on passenger vessels an easier and more positive experience.

We hope it will provide you with useful information on how best to access the services you may need to help you to better enjoy travelling by sea.

Keith Richards
Chair, International Working Group

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