SPIRIT OF BRITAIN was allowed to start on Tuesday 3 May. It comes after P&O sacked 800 seafarers in March to replace them with cheaper agency workers. SPIRIT OF FRANCE is still in Rotterdam for (lengthy) repairs. PRIDE OF KENT has failed an inspection by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for a...
https://ferryshippingnews.com/50-days-later-po-ferries-sails-again-on-dover-calais-with-1-ship/
In 2019 P&O Ferries ordered new “super ferries” for its flagship Dover to Calais services. Now, with P&O Ferries breaking from its social obligations by unlawfully terminating 800 seafarers and tearing up agreed safe working practices and safety standards, these ferries raise further concerns of increasing levels of fatigue on the short sea route.
The reported £220 million investment in new tonnage, to arrive in Dover in the Autumn of 2022, represents a significant opportunity to improve fuel...
https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2022/04/01/po-ferries-newbuilds-set-to-squeeze-standards-further/
Mick Cash
SEAFARER Ratings union RMT today poured scorn over P&O’s claim that Brexit was behind their decision to switch the entire Dover-Calais fleet from the UK to the Cypriot flag as the company finally confirmed publicly exactly what RMT has been warning of for weeks.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said:
“This is pure opportunism from P&O, whose long term aim has always been to switch the UK fleet to a tax haven register, as they have already done with most of the Irish Sea and North Sea...