P&O Ferries suspends all sailings ahead of ‘major announcement’, but denies liquidation reports | UK News

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P&O Ferries has suspended all sailings ahead of a “major announcement” – but insisted it is “not going into liquidation”.

A statement which appears to be from the ferry operator posted on Twitter by Hull Labor MP Karl Turner said it “will be making a major announcement today”.

The MP also posted a picture of cars waiting at King George Dock and said: “New foreign crew waiting to board the Pride of Hull on King George Dock. @RMTunion sitting in onboard the vessel. They will not be boarding her. We understand that both current officers and ratings are to be sacked.”

New foreign crew waiting to board the Pride of Hull on King George Dock. @RMTunion sitting in onboard the vessel. They will not be boarding her. We understands that both current officers and ratings are to be sacked. pic.twitter.com/JqJOWNxgDA

— Karl Turner MP (@KarlTurnerMP) March 17, 2022

P&O said the announcement will “secure the long-term viability of P&O Ferries.”

The statement continued: “To facilitate this announcement, all our vessels have been asked to discharge their passengers and cargo and standby for further instructions. This means we’re expecting all our ports to experience serious disruption today.”

P&O denies liquidation amid speculation of mass sacking

Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) general Secretary Mick Lynch said there is “growing speculation that the company are planning today to sack hundreds of UK seafarers and replace them with foreign labor.”

He added: “We have instructed our members to remain onboard and are demanding that our members across P&O’s UK operations are protected, and that the secretary of state interventions to save UK seafarers from the dole queue.”

A spokesman for the firm said: “P&O Ferries is not going into liquidation.

“We have asked all ships to come alongside, in preparation for a company announcement.

“Until then, services from P&O will not be running and we are advising travelers of alternative arrangements.”

Image: P&O ferries in Dover after all operations were halted

‘No one helping at port’ says passenger

P&O Ferries wrote on Twitter that those hoping to travel will be guided to an alternative operator with services “unable to run for the next few hours”.

Morgan Ryan told Sky News he arrived at Larne with his family for the 8am sailing to Cairnryan – having been up since 4am – when they noticed people being turned away.

“We got to the front of the queue and a P&O staff member informed us all services had been suspended. She didn’t know why, only that they’d been told all operations were suspended at 7.30am.

“Annoyingly, we were directed to Belfast and assured that all bookings had been rearranged with Stena and that we’d be on the 11.30am crossing with them.

Regretfully, P&O Ferries services are unable to run for the next few hours. Our Port Teams will guide you and travel will be arranged via an alternative operator.

We apologise for the inconvenience this will have on your journey plans.

— P&O Ferries (@POferries) March 17, 2022

“Of course, when we got there they had no knowledge of any arrangement and had not received any contact from P&O. We had to fork out the fare again as we need to be in Glasgow today.”

Having paid €420 (£360) for the original booking, the family had to pay an additional £320 for the trip with Stena.

He said: “I tried P&O by phone, just hold music. Nobody on the ground helping or making arrangements for customers as stated in their tweets.”

Government ‘concerned’ at suspension

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said his officials will be having “urgent discussions” with P&O Ferries as he expressed concern at the suspension of sailings.

Mr Sapps replied: “I am concerned with this news which is breaking on P&O Ferries. I understand they have temporarily paused their operations and that’s causing disruption at the short straits – Calais-Dover – as well as some other ports.

Image: The company is owned by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World. File pic

“I’m working with the Kent Resilience Forum and I’ve just instructed them to become intricately involved and other partners in this, and we’ll be taking steps later today – including ensuring that my officials will be having urgent discussions with P&O about the situation, particularly of concern for their workers.”

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he would allow an “emergency statement” from the Government on Thursday if needed.

Follows 2020 warning

The company, which transports passengers and freight, is owned by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World.

It operates these four routes: Dover to Calais; Hull to Rotterdam; Liverpool to Dublin; and Cairnryan, Scotland, to Larne, Northern Ireland.

@POferries have apparently instructed their crews both ratings and officers to tie up the vessel’s as they are making a ‘major’ announcement today. This is troubling for crews and their families. I am in contact with ratings and officer unions regarding this. pic.twitter.com/W2Kh5WNval

— Karl Turner MP (@KarlTurnerMP) March 17, 2022

A route that previously operated between Hull and Zeebrugge, Belgium, was axed in January 2021.

Following the coronavirus outbreak, P&O Ferries warned in May 2020 that around 1,100 workers could lose their jobs as part of a plan to make the business “viable and sustainable”.

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