UK – British ferry routes are proving to be more than a little contentious in the current situation. With Stena and P&O both furloughing workers and making redundancies the odd contrast between passenger carriage and essential freight services are, as with air cargo, making for a completely revised situation for the carriers involved.

Since then the company has carried just 2593 passengers compared to 57,233 for the same period last year, some services running with just one or two passengers along with those vital goods and services. CalMac seeks evidence of Island residency or key worker status for all customers on all sailings. Commercial customers have been made aware that they are expected to provide evidence to their drivers that they are carrying essential goods or providing essential services as defined by the Scottish Government.

“This has been an extremely challenging time for our staff and our communities, and I want to praise both for the way in which they have handed these unique circumstances. It is hugely encouraging that the public are paying attention to the Government advice of do not travel unless your journey is absolutely essential.

On board the company's fourteen ships with retail outlets all have been shut down, leaving the west coast ferry operator sifting stock, and anything with a sell by date within three months, including soft drinks, confectionary, crisps, cakes and biscuits, will be donated to local food banks. CalMac’s Head of Sales, Kurt Hart, commented:

Meanwhile North Link Ferries is currently running an essential lifeline service between the Scottish Mainland and Orkney and Shetland and again warning passengers only to travel if their journey is essential. The company has faced further problems this week with the weather causing numerous delays to services.

The union says the company is attempting to apply all re-negotiated crewing and terms and conditions, including on new ferries they have ordered from China that were due for delivery in 2023 and 2024. P&O Ferries Limited’s ultimate owner is the global corporation, DP World, based in the United Arab Emirates. RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash was cutting in his criticism, saying:

“To use the temporary market conditions created by the Coronavirus to attack our members, the maritime workers this country will always need, is nothing short of contemptuous and the Government need to step in here to provide more guarantees to protect British seafarers’ jobs and apprenticeships for the future.

P&O responded with a statement clarifying how difficult they, and the other carriers are finding it to balance the future of a company whilst trying best to retain staff, saying:

<p style="margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;box-sizing: border-box;open sans"orphans: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">"In these extremely challenging and unprecedented times, we are working hard to secure support totalling just over ￡250 million to safeguard jobs and the viability of the business, so we can keep critical goods flowing. That requires the support of all stakeholders, including the UK government. Today we have started presenting proposals to the unions whose support is also absolutely essential. They need to work with us to implement these changes urgently, otherwise the business will run out of cash and even more jobs will be lost.”

“We have already seen a number of ferry companies reduce their services and send a large number of their staff home. Unless these companies get access to the government financial packages now, this is likely to be followed by further reduction of services, or indeed companies going out of business.

Photo: With CalMac so far making donations of supplies to Ardrossan, Greenock, Oban, Barra and Stornoway Ian MacLennan, Donna Maxwell and Keith MacMillan from the MV Isle of Mull prepare a shipment for distribution.

Source: handyshippingguide

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The OLO News.