P&O ferry held in NI: ‘unfit to sail’

A ship operated by P&O Ferries has been detained in Northern Ireland for being unfit to sail.

The European Causeway vessel, which normally sails between Larne and Cairnryan, has been held in port due to “failures on crew familiarisation, vessel documentation and crew training”, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said.

Unions have also raised fears over a lack of training of new crew after the firm replaced their 800 staff with cheaper workers. The firm said it would make the changes needed to return the ship to service.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “We can confirm that the European Causeway has been detained in Larne.

“It has been detained due to failures on crew familiarisation, vessel documentation and crew training.

“The vessel will remain under detention until all these issues are resolved by P&O Ferries. Only then will it be reinspected.”

The MCA said there were no passengers or freight on board when the ship was detained, and the vessel would remain under detention until all issues were resolved by P&O Ferries.

The RMT union welcomed the detention of the European Causeway and demanded the Government seize the entire fleet of P&O vessels.

General secretary Mick Lynch said: “The seizing of the European Causeway by the MCA shows that the gangster capitalist outfit P&O are not fit and proper to run a safe service after the jobs massacre. This mob should be barred, their ships impounded and the sacked crews reinstated to get these crucial ferry routes back running safely.”

Maritime trade union Nautilus International said the importance of a well-trained crew could not be overstated. General secretary Mark Dickinson said: “The consequences can be fatal when commercial pressure takes precedence over safety concerns.”

P&O Ferries said: “We shall review the findings, make any changes required and continue to work closely with the MCA to return the ship to service.”