Coastguard raises concerns over survival craft on P&O vessel April 19, 2022 The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) revealed today that an inability to deploy lifeboats and rafts was one of the 31 failures discovered aboard of P&O’s vessel European Causeway. Agents said that the “launching arrangement for survival craft” on the vessels were “not as required” while inflatable evacuation slides were not properly maintained. Other failures [...]
P&O to face soaring insurance bill after sinking to riskiest safety rating April 18, 2022 P&O is to face soaring insurance bills after it sank to the riskiest safety rating, with its performance deemed “very low.” According to an analysis of an international database of inspections, P&O was previously awarded a “medium rating,” but after it sacked 800 seafarers and replaced them with agency workers the rating sank. “It’s very [...]
Coastguard reinspects P&O vessel but detains another April 13, 2022 P&O’s vessel the Pride of Kent was reinspected today at the company’s request, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said. “All inspections have to satisfy the Maritime and Coastguard Agency that the ferries fulfil the requirement of the Port State Control regime and are safe to put to sea,” a MCA spokesperson said. “There are [...]
UK coastguard detains latest P&O boat Spirit of Britain April 13, 2022 The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today it has detained P&O Ferries’ latest vessel, the Spirit of Britain. Coastguard agents said the boat was not allowed to sail after safety issues were identified – potentially putting in jeopardy P&O’s return to operations. P&O initially said it was restarting services between Dover and Calais last [...]
Coastguard reinspects detained P&O ferry as operator sets to restart April 7, 2022 The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said today it was reinspecting a P&O Ferry detained in Northern Ireland after it was deemed “unfit to sail.” According to the MCA, the reinspection was taking place at P&O’s request. “All inspections have to satisfy the Maritime and Coastguard Agency that the ferries fulfil the requirement of the [...]
Grant Shapps says new measures will make P&O “fundamentally rethink” layoffs March 30, 2022 Grant Shapps unveiled today a new set of measures which are expected to make P&O Ferries “fundamentally rethink” the sacking of almost 800 seafarers. “P&O Ferries’ failure to see reason, to recognise the public anger, and to do the right thing by their staff has left the government with no choice,” he told the House [...]
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 [...]
Second P&O ferry grounded following sackings row March 28, 2022 Another P&O ship is being detained as the ferry firm rides of the waves of the ongoing sackings scandal, which saw the firm replace 800 seafarers with lower-paid crew. As reported by Sky News this evening, The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said earlier in the day that the Pride of Kent was undergoing checks [...]
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 [...]
Itsu hopeful of return to pre-pandemic sales growth this year March 7, 2022 East-Asian inspired fast food chain Itsu has said it is confident it will return to like-for-like sales growth this year. In documents filed to Companies House last week, the high street chain posted its financial accounts for the period ended 31 December 2020. Group revenue hit £61.7m for the period, which was marred by Covid [...]