P&O workers’ fury as ferry runs adrift
Staff asked to leave vessel after breakdown left ship’s passengers in the dark and prompted lifeboat aid
P&O SAILORS on a ferry that went adrift off Northern Ireland yesterday demanded to leave citing safety fears, it has been claimed.
The European Causeway broke down for more than an hour during its voyage from Scotland, prompting the deployment of three lifeboats and a helicopter.
A Cunard cruise liner also waited nearby, while passengers on the ferry endured periodic electrical blackouts.
It comes a month after authorities detained the ferry over 31 safety failings, and P&O sacked most of its workforce without notice and replaced them largely with agency staff.
Yesterday, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said workers on board were demanding to leave the vessel because they felt it was unsafe.
Darren Proctor, RMT national secretary, also said engine parts from European Causeway, which began sailing again two weeks ago, were last week lent to its sister ferry, European Highlander, in order for it to pass an inspection. P&O last night had not responded to either claim.
The crew of European Causeway, which set off from Cairnryan at midday, eventually managed to restart engines and the ferry progressed to its destination of Larne “under its own propulsion”, according to P&O.
One passenger told UTV: “The engine just collapsed, stopped working.
“They managed to get it working again and we were sailing for another ten minutes. Then it stopped and completely blacked out, all the electrics, everything was down.”
Experts said last night breakdowns on such a large vessel were rare.
Former Rear-adml Chris Parry said an incident on a ferry of that size “shouldn’t be that common”.
“There is normally sufficient redundancy in the machinery and the back-up systems to make sure that this sort of thing doesn’t happen,” he added.
It is understood that all the crew on board European Causeway are almost entirely agency staff, though some are former P&O employees who have returned under a new contract.
Mr Proctor said while crew would technically be qualified, “unfamiliarity with this ship contributed to this event”.
He added: “When you’ve got an ageing vessel and an unfamiliar crew, this is what happens. From reports from crew on board, engine parts were changed with the European Highlander in order for it to pass its inspection.
“We are also hearing that crew want to get off with immediate effect, but P&O is holding them to the end of their contract and refusing to pay their travel expenses if they leave early.”
Last month, the ship was detained for “failures on crew familiarisation, vessel documentation and crew training”.
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said at the time: “I will not compromise the safety of these vessels and P&O will not be able to rush inexperienced crew through training.”
The vessel began sailing again two weeks ago.
Yesterday, an RNLI spokesman said: “Three RNLI lifeboats were requested to launch this afternoon to assist a passenger ferry in difficulty one mile south east of The Maidens... The ferry gained power again and was escorted back into the Port of Larne by all three lifeboats”.
A P&O Ferries spokesman said: “Following a temporary mechanical issue, the European Causeway is now continuing on its scheduled journey to the Port of Larne under its own propulsion, with local tugs on standby, where it will discharge its passengers and cargo as planned.
“There are no reported injuries on board and all the relevant authorities have been informed. Once in dock a full independent investigation will be undertaken.”