P&O Ferries set to resume ‘vital routes’ at weekend

Embattled ferry operator P&O Ferries is planning to resume services on key routes this weekend, including the Dover-Calais crossing.

The company controversially made almost 800 seafarers redundant on March 17, replacing them with agency workers on lower wages.

A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said: “From this weekend, P&O Ferries are getting ready to resume services across a number of vital routes.

More: P&O Ferries sackings ‘last resort’ to save company, boss insists

“P&O has been working closely with regulators to ensure our ships are safe to sail. P&O is looking forward to welcoming back vital services and we expect to have two of our vessels ready to sail on the Dover-Calais route by next week, subject to regulatory signoff, namely both the Pride of Kent and Spirit of Britain between Dover-Calais.

The company also expects to operate European Causeway between Larne and Cairnryan; and the Pride of Hull, which runs services between Hull and Rotterdam.

The statement added: “For those customers still affected by wider disruption, we are providing refunds to all passengers booked to travel with us to whom we have not been able to provide alternative services.

“Anyone who has had their trip disrupted with P&O will also receive a free trip to be used on a future journey with us, that can be taken later in the year.

“We thank our customers for their patience during this time and we apologise to those customers whose journeys have been cancelled and disrupted.”

The Dover-Calais link is the busiest ferry route between the UK and continental Europe, and at present DFDS is carrying P&O Ferries customers on its ships.

However, DFDS has warned that it will have no availability for P&O Ferries passengers on Friday, Saturday or Sunday (April 8-10).

P&O FERRIES INFO | DFDS has no availability for P&O customers between 08 April 00:01 and 10 April 23:59. Please do not proceed to port without a confirmed reservation, contact P&O Ferries for alternative travel arrangements. pic.twitter.com/0ORlsa5NwG

— DFDS UK Updates (@DFDSUKUpdates) April 6, 2022