BRITS have been left stuck in port after P&O Ferries cancelled all services this morning, and has reportedly made all staff redundant.
The company, which is the leading ferry firm between Dover and Calais, suspended all crossings earlier this morning ahead of a “major announcement” it would be making later today.
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But the company has reportedly made all staff redundant with immediate effect and will use agency workers to sail its shops, a Times newspaper reporter said on Twitter.
No official announcement has been made, but a crew member, who wished to remain anonymous told South West News Service: “As of effect from today all our contracts have been terminated and we’ve all been made redundant.”
All the firm’s cross-Channel services were cancelled this morning at short notice with travellers being diverted to alternative operators.
A statement made by P&O to their staff earlier today told workers to expect “serious disruption” at all of its ports.
The statement read: “We will be making a major company announcement today which, with the support of our shareholder DP World, will secure the long-term viability of P&O Ferries.
“To facilitate this announcement all our vessels have been asked to discharge their passengers and cargo and standby for further instructions.
“That means we’re expecting all our ports to experience serious disruption today so please bear with us and we will give further information in an all-colleague announcement later today.”
Passengers with trips booked today have been told their travel will be provided by alternative ferry companies, such as DFDS and Irish Ferries.
A tweet on the company’s Twitter page said: “Our port teams will guide you and travel will be arranged via an alternative operator.
“We apologise for the inconvenience this will have on your journey plans.”
MP for Kingston upon Hull Karl Turner tweeted in response to the cancellations: “This is troubling for crews and their families. I am in contact with ratings and officer unions regarding this.”
People who had plans to board a P&O ferry this morning have expressed their frustration on twitter.
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One person wrote: “But who is going to let us know and when please? We were meant to be on the 6.30 ferry, sat here since 5.30 and not one person has explained anything.”
Another put: “The alternative operator knows nothing either! Some clarity would be great.”
Someone else added: “Sitting in Calais very angry!”
P&O Ferries has denied it is going into liquidation after suspending sailings.
A spokesman for the firm said: “P&O Ferries is not going into liquidation.
“We have asked all ships to come alongside, in preparation for a company announcement.
“Until then, services from P&O will not be running and we are advising travellers of alternative arrangements.”
Sun Online Travel has contacted P&O Ferries for further comment.
Your rights when ferries are cancelled
If your ferry has been cancelled, or its departure has been delayed for more than 90 minutes, you should get a full refund.
Your ticket should be refunded within seven days or you should be able to get on an alternative ferry at no extra cost, according to Which?.
Travel association ABTA says your ferry operator should offer you accommodation free of charge if your ferry has been cancelled and you’re stuck for the night.
It can limit the cost of shelling out for an overnight stay at £66 a night per night per passenger for a maximum of three nights.
Or, your ferry operator may ask you to make your own way home and offer to pay your expenses back.
What about delays?
You can get some money back when your ferry is delayed too, ABTA said.
You can get 25% of your ticket price back on the leg of the journey that’s been affected when the delay lasts for:
- One hour for a journey lasting four hours
- Two hours for a journey of that takes between four and eight hours
- Three hours for a journey of duration between eight and 24 hours
- Six hours for a journey lasting over 24 hours
The compensation you are entitled to rises to 50% of the ticket price if the delay doubles the time set out.
You’ll have to make a claim to your provider for compensation – but it must pay up within one month of a claim being submitted.
But you won’t get compensation if the delay was caused by bad weather putting the safety of everyone at risk.
If your ferry operator has failed to reimburse your ticket or give you compensation in cases where your journey has been cancelled or delayed, contact ABTA.
They will handle your complaint and see whether they can help you resolve the issue with the ferry provider.
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