P&O Ferries Scandal Escalates
P&O Ferries face possible criminal probe
The Department for Transport, taking a stand against P&O Ferries, made it clear Thursday, 31 March 2022 would be the deadline for rehiring all 800-British crew members. The metaphorical line in the sand, redrawn no further, was abundantly clear to anyone with a modicum of intelligence.
The Insolvency Service's investigation, covering both criminal and civil investigations, will be extensive. It will revolve around the circumstances pertaining to the redundancies. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, referencing Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, took to Twitter regarding the coming investigation.
"Following my letter to the Insolvency Service last week, formal criminal and civil investigations into P&O Ferries have now commenced," Kwarteng tweeted. " Transport Secretary @GrantShapps and I will continue to follow this matter closely as the investigations progress."
Shapps, earlier this week, spoke of a package of measures specifically designed to make P&O Ferries "fundamentally rethink" its decision. The way British crew members were fired was seen as a slap in the face to both the United Kingdom and the British government. P&O Ferries curiously declined to comment.
P&O Ferries, via the company's update Twitter account, continue to tweet about services being remained cancelled. The company fails to recognise the reason for such cancellations stems directly from it firing all 800-British crew members from their vessels.
British shipping company, owned by the by Dubai-based DP World since 2019, dismissed on Thursday, 17 March 2022 all 800-British crew members with practically zero notice. Some of the dismissals came via pre-recorded video call. The circumstances of the dismissals, all of which were illegal, prompted widespread safety concerns.
Obviously, when it came to P&O Ferries sacking only its British employees, the political divide vanished. The decision, seeing politicians from all British political parties agreeing, garnered significant criticism.
Peter Hebblethwaite, P&O Ferries' CEO, admitted the DP World owned shipping company knowingly broke the law. Whilst several factors were at play, inclusive of Brexit and COVID-19, no excuse can validate breaking the law. Companies, when considering such massive changes, are legally required to consult with unions. No such consultation took place.
P&O Ferries, on Friday, 1 April 2022, revealed all but one of the 800 sacked British employees had accepted the redundancy offer made to them by the company. John Lansdown, when approached by the BBC, had stated he had not responded to the offer.
Coastguard seizes P&O Ferries-operated ferry...
MS Pride of Kent, docked at the Port of Dover, was seized by the United Kingdom's Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The vessel, according to the MCA, failed routine safety checks specifically designed to ensure safe travel for both employees and customers.
"The seizing of the Pride of Kent by the MCA this evening should be adequate evidence for the government that the gangster capitalist outfit P&O are not fit and proper to run a safe service after the jobs massacre," General Secretary Mick Lynch said.
"It's rare enough for the MCA to impound a ferry but P&O have now had two in a week after the jobs carve up which speaks volumes about the dire state of their operation."
Pride of Kent, the second of two P&O Ferries operated vessels to fails such safety checks, remained detained in dock.
Brexit Connections...
P&O Ferries, in January 2019, announced the UK fleet would no longer be sailing under the British flag. The company, in response to the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, saw the UK vessels reflagged from Dover, UK to Limassol, Cyprus.
The decision made "For operational and accounting reasons". Cyprus, an EU member, was clearly a flag of convenience. EU tax arrangements were unquestionably a huge consideration.
The reflagging, according to the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, was purely "opportunism". P&O Ferries "long-term aim has always been to switch the UK fleet to a tax haven register".
About the Creator
Shain Thomas
I'm a freelance journalist. A member of both the NLGJA and SPJ, I currently write articles for Harsh Light News on Medium and HVY.Com. When I was a university student, I wrote articles for the NT Daily and TCU 360.
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