I have just seen on the BBC text service that P&O Ferries has just cancelled all its sailings and instructed all its ferries to remain in port.
They will be making a financial announcement later today.
They have been the only ferry company providing foot passenger service between Dover and France.
P & O sacked 800 employees today saying they wouldn't be a viable company if they didn't. They also said sailings would be cancelled for the next few days.
Crewmembers are refusing to leave their ships saying they are going to be replaced with cheaper labor.
I'm sorry for those whose travels are impacted by this, but sorrier still for the crew members who have lost their jobs.
true, but for Dover short crossings they have been the only choice for the folks who post here about crossing as foot passengers with no truck or car.
I have a credit note from them for a cancelled trip due to Covid. Looks like that will be worthless.
We have lovely memories of crossing from Calais to Dover on a perfect June day. We could see the cliffs for the entire journey. While we watched, several grandparents came up to the bow, pointing out the cliffs to their grandchildren. No bluebirds, but still a perfect experience. How sad if this will no longer be an option for all the other Anglophile tourists.
for Dover short crossings they have been the only choice for the folks who post here about crossing as foot passengers with no truck or car.
It would NEVER have occurred to me that a ferry would not take foot passengers. Good that you pointed that out. I suspect I may not be the only one to have made the erroneous assumption that any/all ferries accept walk-ons.
DP World, the Dubai owners of P&O received millions of pounds of taxpayers money over the past two years. I don’t suppose any of that will be repaid.
They haven’t gone bust, but are replacing the staff with cheaper foreign labour.
99.9% of ferry traffic is in a vehicle, otherwise foot passengers would take the Eurostar service which is quicker and pleasanter.
I wonder if P&O have just ‘done a Ratner’ and terminally wounded their own business? I know people’s memories are short and everybody loves a good deal, but if there was an alternative option would you really want to trust or associate with a company that behaves as P&O have done?
Ian
P&O Cruises, who are owned by a different company (Carnival) from P&O Ferries and hence have nothing to do with this are being caught in the backwash. Might confine the name to history
Per news on France 2 yesterday, Thursday.
The 800 are being replaced by lower-paid Colombians. P& O claims they've been bleeding money since Brexit and COVID. They handle 60% of the truck crossings.
DP World, the Dubai owners of P&O received millions of pounds of taxpayers money over the past two years. I don’t suppose any of that will be repaid.
They are asking for more money but the government said no especially since DP World handed out 270 million GBP as dividends last year to its shareholders.
