‘DESIRE TO REMAIN EU-REGISTERED’SUGGESTED AS REASON FOR MOVE THAT HAS TRIGGERED WORKERS’RIGHTS FEARS
AUNION and an Assembly member have voiced concerns over the potential impact on workers of reports Stena Line has reflagged its new super ferry.
The £160m Stena Estrid went into service on the HolyheadDublin route last month – and is already proving a success with passengers.
But Ynys Môn AM Rhun ap Iorwerth says Stena has taken the decision to change the ship’s registration so that on paper it sails under the flag of Cyprus.
Similar decisions have been made by other ferry firms to enable them to continue to benefit from the tax arrangements of EU states.
But the Plaid AM says he has spoken to crew members concerned by the decision.
He said: “It’s great to see investment in that beautiful new ship, but I am worried by the fact that during a delivery from China recently, she was changed from Welsh to Cypriot registration.
“There’s a suggestion that it’s driven by a desire to remain EUregistered.
“I have met members of the ship’s crew, who, as a result, no longer pay UK national insurance contributions directly, and are worried about the implications of that.
“They also have longer-term worries that re-flagging under a flag of convenience could be a slippery slope towards undermining workers’ rights and undermining Stena’s current policy, which is vital on Ynys Môn, of crewing locally rather than internationally.
“So, as well as providing a statement, I have asked that the Government write to Stena, as I am doing, to seek assurances that workers’ rights and jobs will be protected, and in doing so, that the Welsh Government uses its influence as a partfunder of various Stena projects.”
Welsh Government Minister Rebecca Evans said she would liaise with Transport minister Ken Skates on the issue.
A spokesman for the RMT union said: “The re-flagging of the Stena Estrid from Cardiff to Limassol has not led to any job losses, but neither has it created the numbers we were hoping for whilst the ship it’s replacing, the Superfast X, remains in service in the Irish Sea.
“We are still in dialogue with HMRC, Stena Line and the other ferry companies in the UK who recently switched their ships from the UK to the Cypriot register.
“The advice to date is that the impact of this move on National Insurance liabilities and entitlement could vary on a memberby-member basis, but we are working to provide clear advice and guidance to the members on Stena Estrid and other vessels affected.
“We will be meeting HMRC in the near future to finalise this.”
Stena Line has been asked to comment.