HI all,
Just wondering if any boffins can clarify something for me regarding ferry breaks with the Siemens VDO Digi Tacho.
Having purchased a vehicle with a digi tacho recently, I need to know the exact proceedure for adopting the ferry break. Its my understanding after reading the “very informative” instruction manual that came with the vehicle, that when I arrive at the port in the lanes, and park up, I should immediately switch to BREAK MODE then, go into Driver One menu and select FERRY option. If I have to move for any reason whilst on my break before boarding, the tacho will automatically detect driving, and willl knock the ferry break mode off. Once stopped again, I need to reselect FERRY option again? Correct? And when boarding, as soon as parked on board, select BREAK MODE again and reset into FERRY option again? Can someone please clarify this for me, as I have been told conflicting ways of doing this. In closing, I am not forgetting to select in and out countries.
Thanks in advance. 
I’ve never used the ferry option myself so here’s a link to a post that explains it clearly 
No such thing as Ferry Break or mode and that’s where people get mightily confused about this when they invent modes that are not in the regulations. 
Think of the ferry option in the menu as the digital equivalent of using a pen to mark on a chart the reason for interrupting your rest, that’s all it is.
Arrive in the port and put it on rest in the normal way. Just before boarding select the ferry option, this will mark the data to show why you are interrupting your rest, change mode to other work then drive on board when called forward. Once on board select rest again. Just before disembarking, if you haven’t had 11 hours rest, select ferry option, change mode to other work, and disembark. Park up and set the mode back to rest until you have taken 11 hours of rest. Don’t select the ferry option when you first put it on rest while waiting to board, that’ll just confuse things so do it just before boarding and disembarkation starts.
If you are on a crossing where you will get 9 or more hours rest and you are just going to have your rest uninterrupted then you don’t need to use the ferry option.
Coffeeholic:
No such thing as Ferry Break or mode and that’s where people get mightily confused about this when they invent modes that are not in the regulations. Think of the ferry option in the menu as the digital equivalent of using a pen to mark on a chart the reason for interrupting your rest, that’s all it is.
Arrive in the port and put it on rest in the normal way. Just before boarding select the ferry option, this will mark the data to show why you are interrupting your rest, change mode to other work then drive on board when called forward. Once on board select rest again. Just before disembarking, if you haven’t had 11 hours rest, select ferry option, change mode to other work, and disembark. Park up and set the mode back to rest until you have taken 11 hours of rest. Don’t select the ferry option when you first put it on rest while waiting to board, that’ll just confuse things so do it just before boarding and disembarkation starts.
If you are on a crossing where you will get 9 or more hours rest and you are just going to have your rest uninterrupted then you don’t need to use the ferry option.
Very clearly explained. Thanks.
pierrot 14:
Coffeeholic:
I forgot to add, if you are using the Woolwich ferry then you don’t need to use the ferry option which one of our agency drivers did recently. “I was told that you have to use it every time you are on a ferry or VOSA will nick you and fine you £100,” was his excuse. 
I still want to know where the duty-free shop is, on thaose ferries. 
Deck 8 between the casino and cinema mate.