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P&O Ferries to lay off a quarter of its workforce


P&O Ferries is planning to make 1,100 staff – a quarter of its workforce – permanently redundant, following a sharp fall in its freight carryings and a near-collapse in its passenger business during the Covid-19 crisis. The ferry operator, which is


owned by the Sovereign State of Dubai, had been in talks to secure a £150m rescue deal from the UK Government. The announcement drew sharp criticism from Dover MP Natalie Elphicke, who said that P&O Ferries had received millions


of pounds of UK


government money in furlough and freight support payments. Around 1,400 staff have already been furloughed. The operator currently has


taken seven of its vessels out of service. P&O Ferries is the


main ferry operator on the Dover-Calais route, and has also recently introduced a new Calais- Tilbury route. It also has a freight service between Liverpool and Dublin, North Sea passenger and freight services between Hull, Zeebrugge and Rotterdam and freight and passenger services between Larne and Cairnryan. P&O Ferries has meanwhile


taken a number of steps to ensure


the safety of freight


drivers and passengers on its ferries including closing all public toilets and facilities such as cinemas, while in the restaurant a served buffet is the only option. A one person per table rule is in force. However, the ferry operator


keep vital freight rolling FLATWRONG! DfT signs ferry deal to


also provides snack packs and tea and coffee facilities in cabins to discourage drivers from wandering around the vessel.


facilities at ports and all drivers on the Liverpool - Dublin, Hull – Zeebrugge, Hull – Europoort, Tilbury – Zeebrugge and Teesport - Zeebrugge routes will have access to single use cabins.


The government said on 18 May that it had signed agreements with six ferry operators – Brittany Ferries, DFDS, Eurotunnel, P&O Ferries, Seatruck and Stena - to provide up to £35 million to help ensure there is enough freight capacity to ensure that supplies of critical goods such as food and medical supplies can move freely. It says the move will protect


16 of the most important routes covering the Channel, the Short Strait, the North Sea and routes between


Great Britain and


Northern Ireland which were previously at risk of closure due to a drop in demand as a result of the corona crisis. They were designated as Public Service Obligation routes for up to nine weeks. The routes concerned


are: Portsmouth-Santander/ Cherbourg, Poole-Bilbao, Dover- Calais/Dunkerque, Folkestone- Coquelles, Cairnryan-Larne/ Belfast, Tilbury-Zeebrugge, Teesport-Rotterdam, Hull- R o tt erdam/Z eeb ru gg e , He ysham-Warren poin t, Killingholme-Rotterdam and Harwich-Rotterdam/Hoek van Holland. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “By taking this


action, we have helped protect the movement of goods and services in and out of the UK, safeguarding the flow of supplies across the Union. The Department for Transport is working closely with the transport sector and devolved administrations to monitor the situation on all freight routes (not just those in the scheme) in order to ensure critical goods, such as food and medical supplies, can move freely.” The agreements follow the UK,


French and Irish governments’ pledge to work together on temporary measures to ensure Covid-19 does not threaten freight routes between the countries. Shapps said that essential


supplies are continuing to flow well, but operators are facing challenges


as fewer people


travelling means less capacity to move goods. (The Department for


Transport has also announced that thousands of volunteers, vehicles, aircraſt and ships from the transport sector have been placed on standby in a new Transport Support Unit to assist frontline responders during the crisis. Assets made available include four fixed-wing aircraſt


owned by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, including a Boeing 737 and are available for tasks including moving emergency patients and medical supplies.) The British International


Freight Association (BIFA) gave a cautious welcome to the ferry subsidies. Director general Robert Keen said: “The government’s decision to provide financial support to safeguard 16 of the most important routes covering the Channel, the Short Strait, the North Sea between


Great and


Northern Ireland provides some reassurance for our members managing the movement of freight on those routes.” He added that the


announcement appeared to be related to the promised broader package of support measures for routes between the UK and mainland Europe, first unveiled in late April: “It would appear that initial funding pledge has increased, much of which will be committed to support critical routes between Britain and the European mainland.” “It is also good to hear the


g o vernmen t acknowledging


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It also provides a packed lunch for drivers, so they don’t have to stop at service stations. A team of cleaners sanitise


all areas especially points such as door handles every 30 minutes, using the most effective chemicals on the market. A quarantine process is in


place for any crew or passengers showing symptoms. P&OF adds that all its


services are fully bookable for both driver accompanied and


units


unaccompanied and


it is freight providing


extended storage on quay by prior arrangement. It has established


dedicated driver


Flatrack?


and routes Britain


Safe From The Elements


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