'Incessant drone' from P&O ferry engines causing sleepless nights for worn out Leith residents

People living near a ferry docked in Leith have flooded port owners with complaints after reports that the ship’s engine noise was so loud local residents have been unable to sleep for three nights.

Complaints have been made about the noise

The problems started when the The Pride of Burgundy, the first of two P&O Ferries normally servicing the Dover-Calais route currently mothballed in the Forth until the covid drama passes, arrived in the port’s Western Harbour at the weekend.

The noise from the ship’s engine, which residents claim has been running almost constantly since the weekend, has forced some to switch bedrooms, and others to buy expensive sound-cancelling headphones.

One of the ferries docked at Leith

One Leith Western Harbour resident said: “I’ve lived here for 12 years, and of course you know there’s going to be noise living beside a working dock. On Saturday morning I was even messaging friends, quite happily telling them about the new arrival berthed opposite the flat. Within a few hours, I’d had enough of the engine noise. And that was several days ago. It’s just relentless.

“It's not really the volume that’s the problem, it’s the incessant drone – I totally understand now how people can use constant white noise as a form of torture. You just can’t switch off from it, it wears you down - my mental health is really suffering.

“When hundreds of people are on lockdown in flats close by, there’s just no escape for anyone. In normal times you could go and stay with a friend, or at least go out for a couple of hours. But that’s not an option. I slept on the floor in my hallway last night, because it has no windows and is the only place I can get away from the engine noise.

“Forth Ports and the council both say there’s nothing either of them can do about it. But why did Forth Ports accept their money to berth here if it was going to be like this? It’s just unbearable.

"Of course, we know these are exceptional times, with ships that can’t sail looking to find a berth. But Forth Ports and P&O also need to recognise that these unusual times mean that their neighbours are under lockdown in their flats all day and night, and have no way of escaping their noise."

Fellow local resident, Jen Rankine tweeted: “Day 3 of @POferries running their engines 24/7 and another ferry pulls in right next to its pal, but this time it's LOUDER.

“My mind has been lost. Double glazing is no match for the powers of the polluting beast in the dock. The constant drone of noise torture has won.”

Another resident, Chris Ashurst, told The Edinburgh Reporter: “I am certainly not happy – neither are many of the residents in Western Harbour after a third night of disturbed sleep.

“The disturbance caused to all residents in Western Harbour is unacceptable . We have several key NHS and other workers living here.

“It is heartless and careless on the part of the port to cause such added disturbance at this time when they need rest. The lack of action on the part of a company who has acknowledged responsibility give an appearance of arrogance and an complete abrogation of responsibility.”

Forth Ports have taken to social media to apologise to residents directly and pledged that the issue will not be long-term.

A spokesperson from Forth Ports (owners of The Port of Leith) said: “During these unprecedented times, Forth Ports has been helping our maritime colleagues by providing safe haven for a number of vessels during the lockdown, for example the four Fred Olsen vessels that are currently anchored in the Forth Estuary.

“We will be berthing two ferries owned by P&O in the Port of Leith. One arrived on Saturday and a second is due today (Tuesday). We have a strong Group relationship with P&O who operate a freight ferry service out of our port at Tilbury on the Thames.

“The engines run until the ship’s power is switched over to a generator. This does take a bit of time, but the engine noise will stop when they are switched off. We thank the local community for their patience as we go about our providing assistance to our customers, ship owners and seafarers in what are unprecedented and challenging times for parts of the maritime industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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