P&O accuses Coastguard of ‘unprecedented rigour’ after two ships detained March 30, 2022 P&O Ferries accused today the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) of displaying “an unprecedented level of rigour” after it detained two of the firm’s ships. The European Causeway and Pride of Kent vessels were detained in the last few days over safety concerns, as government scrutiny around P&O increased following the layoff of around 800 [...]
Maersk warns Shanghai’s lockdown will hike transport costs March 29, 2022 Shipping giant Maersk said today transport costs will continue to increase following Shanghai’s decision to lockdown. Shanghai started going into lockdown yesterday, closing down half of the city while the other one will be be shut from Friday for a four-day testing exercise. “Trucking service in and out (of) Shanghai will be severely impacted by [...]
P&O tells Government rehiring staff would lead to “financial collapse” March 29, 2022 P&O Ferries can’t rehire those 800 seafarers it sacked earlier this month without risking a “financial collapse”, its boss Peter Hebblethwaite said today. “The circumstances which led P&O Ferries to make the decision in the first place still apply,” Hebblethwaite told transport secretary Grant Shapps in a letter. “Complying with your request would deliberately cause [...]
Thousands take to the streets calling for P&O boss to resign March 26, 2022 Thousands have taken to the streets today calling on P&O Ferries’ boss Peter Hebblethwaite to resign after the operator sacked 800 people last week. Protesters across UK ports such as Liverpool, Dover and Hull rallied under the call of “Stop the P&O jobs Massacre.” “If you are in Dover, Hull or Liverpool, join one of [...]
P&O ‘chose’ to break the law by firing 800 people, company boss says March 24, 2022 P&O Ferries’ chief executive has admitted the ferry operator broke the law by failing to consult employees and unions before sacking 800 people. Peter Hebblethwaite told MPs there was “absolutely no doubt” P&O broke UK employment laws, as he admitted the ferry firm “chose not to consult” employees and unions. “We chose not to consult [...]
Lawyers counter P&O’s claims that it cannot be prosecuted March 24, 2022 Legal experts are disputing P&O’s claims that it is not subject to English law after company boss Peter Hebblethwaite said British courts have no power to prosecute the firm. The ferry operator claimed it had not broken UK laws, because its vessels are registered in Cyprus and Bermuda. The claims come after Prime Minister Boris [...]
P&O Ferries boss apologises ahead of hearing tomorrow amid PM claims company broke law March 23, 2022 P&O’s chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite apologised today to his staff ahead of tomorrow’s joint parliamentary hearing as Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed the ferry operator has broken the law. Hebblethwaite said sacking almost 800 seafarers was an “incredibly difficult decision” but necessary to save the company. “I want to say sorry to the people affected [...]
P&O Ferries to pay £36.5m compensation to workers affected by layoffs March 22, 2022 P&O is set to pay a total of £36.5m to workers who were fired last week in a four-minute video call. The company said that 575 of the 786 seafarers affected by the job cuts are expected to progress with the severance offer, which in some cases amounts to £170,000 per person, Sky News first [...]
Government to carry out safety checks on P&O following salary accusations March 21, 2022 Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the government will carry out safety checks on P&O vessels, after unions accused the operator of paying the replacement crew £1.80 per hour. The Maritime and Coastguard agency was instructed to inspect the ferries before allowing them to re-enter service to make sure the crews are “safe and properly trained.” [...]
Ferry firm ‘tore up PR handbook and flushed every page down the toilet’ March 21, 2022 Communications experts have said P&O’s decision to fire staff was”devoid of decency” and an example of”tearing up the PR handbook and flushing every page down the toilet”. Public relations agency chiefs told City A.M. over the weekend that the way in which P&0 let staff go could give government authorities more of a free hand [...]