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Ministers in Stormont Condemn P&O as Rival Operator Announce Additional Crossings to Scotland

23rd March 2022
Belfast boost: One of Stena Line's pair of 'Superfast' ferries on the Belfast-Cairnryan route. AFLOAT adds that Stena has added a third ferry, Stena Nordica to increase capacity, which 'Ferry' news previously reported operating as a relief ferry on the Dublin-Holyhead route. The added sailings will assist alleviating congestion on the North Channel where rivals on N.I. -Scotland services, P&O Ferries suspended operations out of Larne Port almost a week ago.  Belfast boost: One of Stena Line's pair of 'Superfast' ferries on the Belfast-Cairnryan route. AFLOAT adds that Stena has added a third ferry, Stena Nordica to increase capacity, which 'Ferry' news previously reported operating as a relief ferry on the Dublin-Holyhead route. The added sailings will assist alleviating congestion on the North Channel where rivals on N.I. -Scotland services, P&O Ferries suspended operations out of Larne Port almost a week ago. Credit: Jehan Ashmore

More ferry crossings from Northern Ireland to Scotland are to be added by Stena Line to mitigate the harm caused by P&O Ferries suspending its services after laying off 800 staff.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the extra sailings will take place from Tuesday, March 22 (yesterday) and will help retailers transport goods.

He described Stena Line as having "stepped up" in the wake of the P&O surprise cancellation of routes last week.

"Reprehensible", "disgraceful" and "callous" - these are some of the terms used by government ministers to describe P&O since the scandal hit headlines last week.

The way the workers, including fifty from Northern Ireland were laid off, has caused outrage across all parties in Stormont uniting political adversaries in their condemnation of P&O.

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons said that neither he nor anyone in his department were given any warning about P&O's sudden sacking of employees, including on its Larne to Cairnryan route.

To read comments made by the minister, ITV News covers more of the political response.

Across the Irish Sea, Afloat adds on Monday at the House of Commons, the Labour Party's emergency vote on workers' rights resulted in a victory for seafarers as MPs voted to condemn P&O Ferries.

The vote was passed by 211 votes to none, with the UK government abstaining. For more about the Commons vote can be read from the union, Nautilius International's website here.

While the response by the Irish Government, reports The Irish Times, is that they admit it has ‘limited’ options under Irish law in dealing with the ferry company.

The company caused outrage when it dismissed the 800 workers by Zoom call on St Patrick’s Day and told them that their employment was being terminated immediately.

At least 60 of the employees sacked by P&O Ferries on Thursday are from Ireland, their trade union Nautilus Maritime has stated.

More from the newspaper here including the role of the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) over the ferry dispute. 

Published in Ferry
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!