According to breaking reports this morning, P&O Ferries have made all of their staff redundant. ITV News reports all staff have been made redundant with immediate effect, with the company set to rely on agency staff to run their boats. Current staff will be able to apply for agency work.
NEW: Understand that all sailing staff at P&O Ferries have been made redundant with immediate effect.
The company will use an agency to keep their ferries running and current staff will be able to apply to the agency for work.
The news comes before an expected announcement later today, Thursday March 17th. Earlier today P&O Ferries suspended all services, announcing the news in a now deleted tweet.
The company runs routes from Dover, Tilbury, Hull and Teesport to France, alongside routes from Liverpool to Dublin and Cairnryan to Larne.
P&O confirmed that no services will be running until an announcement is made, warning of major travel disruption.
ITV has seen a leaked email that reveals the company told employees all ferries will discharge passengers and cargo ‘to facilitate the announcement’.
The email says, as per ITV: “We will be making a major company announcement today which, with the support of our shareholder DP World, will secure the long-term viability of P&0 Ferries.
“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 so please bear with us and we will give further information in an all-colleague announcement later today.
“If you’re in a customer facing role further information will follow separately on how we would like you to work with our customers.
“Thank you for your patience and support.”
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
A spokesperson for P&O Ferries 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 travellers of alternative arrangements.”