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UK Government Ministers Have Done Nothing to Stop Repeat of P&O Ferries Scandal, Unions Say

19th March 2024
P&O scandal: Since the mass sacking two years ago, P&O Ferries has continued to use low-paid crew on short-term contracts, employed via an agency. Afloat adds the second year anniversary took place on St. Patrick’s Day, 2022 saw P&O Ferries sack almost 800 seafarers and staff from the ferry operator’s routes of UK to Ireland, France and the Netherlands, and replaced them with agency staff on less than the minimum wage. Above the operator’s famous house-flag on the ropax, Norbay which is on charter to ICG/Irish Ferries, but had gone for planned bi-annual dry-docking at A&P Falmouth, is due to re-enter service on the Rosslare-Pembroke route tomorrow, 20 March.
P&O scandal: Since the mass sacking two years ago, P&O Ferries has continued to use low-paid crew on short-term contracts, employed via an agency. Afloat adds the second year anniversary took place on St. Patrick’s Day, 2022 saw P&O Ferries sack almost 800 seafarers and staff from the ferry operator’s routes of UK to Ireland, France and the Netherlands, and replaced them with agency staff on less than the minimum wage. Above the operator’s famous house-flag on the ropax, Norbay which is on charter to ICG/Irish Ferries, but had gone for planned bi-annual dry-docking at A&P Falmouth, is due to re-enter service on the Rosslare-Pembroke route tomorrow, 20 March. Credit: Jehan Ashmore

Trade unions in the UK have called for proper legal protection for seafarers on the second anniversary of the P&O Ferries mass sudden sackings scandal, warning that government ministers have “done nothing” to stop other ferry firms from following suit.

The Strait of Dover, North Sea, and Irish Sea ferry operator fired 786 British crew on 17 March, 2022 (when all the fleet were instructed to stay in port), in order to replace them with low-paid agency staff. Although the DP World-owned ferry firm admitted to breaking the law, it has continued to operate without sanction while undercutting rival operators on the issue of labour costs.

Two years after the large-scale sackings, unions said that, despite the widespread outrage expressed by the government at the time, ministers had not closed the legal loopholes exploited by P&O Ferries. In addition to not sanctioning the firm or DP World.

In July 2022, the government introduced a new bill to stop firms using legal loopholes to pay low wages, following P&O Ferries’ mass sackings. The government has pledged to pass the Seafarers’ Wages Act, in an attempt to enforce minimum wage legislation for ships operating primarily in British ports, but such legislation has yet to pass.

It has launched a seafarers’ charter, but all the UK-Europe ferry operators—Brittany Ferries, DFDS, Stena Line, and Condor Ferries (Channel Islands)—are signatories to the commitment to work towards higher standards, though P&O and Irish Ferries have not signed up.

More The Guardian reports on the legacy following the fallout of P&O Ferries.

Published in Ferry
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!