Shipping services provider Clarksons posts buoyant profit after ‘supply shortage’ in global fleet August 8, 2022 Shipping services provider Clarkson has posted a profit boost for the first six months of the year, with underlying profit before tax sitting at £42.2m. The London-listed firm saw underlying profit before tax rise some 53.5 per cent in the period. The shipping firm posted £266.7m in revenue for the six months to 30 June, [...]
MOD awards £55m contract to Titanic shipyard Harland & Wolff July 14, 2022 The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded a £55m contract to a shipyard in Devon operated by Harland & Wolff, the Belfast group famous for building the Titanic. The company said this was a “watershed moment,” the Telegraph first reported. As part of the contract, the shipyard will refurbish an old Royal Navy mine hunter, [...]
P&O and DFDS to address competition concerns following CMA investigation June 13, 2022 Ferry operators P&O and DFDS will address concerns over their capacity-sharing agreement after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation. Under the agreement signed in May 2021, cargo customers on the Dover to Calais route can board the next available ship, regardless of who operates it. After it launched an inquiry in November [...]
Harland & Wolff buys military ship from MOD June 1, 2022 Harland & Wolff has bought a military ship from the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The offshore construction company said it has acquired the HMS Atherstone – a mine hunting vessel no longer in service – to refurbish it for non-military uses. The HMS Atherstone was bought as part of Harland & Wolff’s attempt to regenerate [...]
Home Office and DfT rescind P&O contract as company crackdown goes on May 31, 2022 The Home Office and the Department for Transport (DfT) have announced they rescinded a contract with P&O as the government crackdown against the disgraced ferry operator continues. “The Home Office has terminated its agreement with P&O to provide contingency travel services to juxtaposed ports with immediate effect,” home secretary Priti Patel tweeted last night. “Alongside [...]
P&O’s boss praised for ‘amazing job’ by Dubai owner despite sackings scandal May 30, 2022 DP World, the Dubai-based owner of disgraced ferry operator P&O, has praised chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite for doing an “amazing job” when he fired 800 seafarers in March. Chief executive Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said P&O’s management took the decision without interference from the parent company and that could not be reversed, despite attempts by [...]
Brexit: UK ports introduce customs clearance fees in ‘bulls**t money-making exercise’ to recoup lost revenues May 28, 2022 Ports across the UK have introduced so-called ‘customs clearance fees’ in an attempt to recoup lost revenues in border control posts as a result of delays to phytosanitary procedures. Ports in London, Tilbury, Southampton and Teesport are charging customers new, additional fees that range from £17 to £25 per entry. Moreover, Southampton and DP World [...]
Labour calls to ban P&O management from senior positions May 19, 2022 The Labour Party has called to ban the management of disgraced ferry operator P&O from ever holding any kind of senior position after the company sacked 800 seafarers and replaced them with cheaper workers. “P&O brazenly broke the law and they have faced no consequences for their action,” said shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh during [...]
UK unions and ports slam government’s seafarer minimum wage law May 10, 2022 Both unions and the British Ports Association (BPA) have criticised the UK Government’s introduction of a seafarers’ minimum wage law, calling it “likely unworkable.” “This proposal is feeble and highly unworkable,” said Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the union TUC. “Only stronger employment legislation that boosts worker protections and stops companies firing on the spot [...]
UK ports call on government to compensate them for delaying post-Brexit checks by 18 months May 5, 2022 UK ports have called on the government to compensate them for delaying post-Brexit checks by more than a year and a half. According to the ports, the government delays on checks on European animals and plants announced last week mean that the high-tech facilities built for the inspections will remain empty until the end of [...]