A couple of weeks ago there were reports that the company was struggling to "keep afloat" and that they had sought a bailout of £150 million of taxpayers cash from the UK government an idea they are probably not too keen on. P&O's Dubai owners were reported to be seeking an additional £250 million in cost cuts involving staff wages and pension entitlements. It doesn't look good for the future of this company and I wouldn't be surprised if an examiner was appointed to the company very shortly.
Extra capacity for Liverpool is available with Stena Foreteller anchored just off Balbriggan since Ulysses's return from dry dock. I wonder have Stena deliberately left her in the vicinity knowing that things were not well at P&O?
Reports in the press suggest P&O may re-route services to another port in the North West of England. I am not sure about this as the only other port I can think of is Heysham which is also controlled by Peel Ports. However Norbank is scheduled to depart Dublin at 2100 and return tomorrow scheduled for 1900. Provisional departure times for Clipper Pennant pencilled in for Monday but nothing confirmed.
Could Mostyn perhaps be a possibility given they previously availed of the port. (I know it's in Wales but not a million miles from the North West either)
The problem with Mostyn is Tidal. Travelled on the European Ambassador into Mostyn many times. The advantage of going from Mostyn to Dublin was a cooked Breakfast before arrival into Dublin after 8am.
Norbay just leaving Dublin going to Mostyn.
P & O, both Norbay and Norbank back running last night 20/04/20 on the Dub-LIV-DUB
All P&O Ferries on the Dublin to Liverpool route seem to be running normally according to marine traffic
The plot thickens.. An application was made before the High Court in Dublin today on behalf of Seatruck Ferries Limited, for the arrest of the Dutch registered vessel Norbank as a security in respect of a debtof €381,000 allegedly owed to Seatruck in relation to the chartering of the Clipper Pennant to P&O European Ferries (Irish Sea). During the hearing it was said that Clipper Pennant had been detained in Dublin Port over unpaid harbour dues.Mr Justice McDonald granted the application and ordered that the vessel be arrested on arrival in Dublin in about an hours time.
With other ships in the fleet running almost empty and some tied up P&O are in a very precarious position.
The matter has been resolved and Norbank was not arrested.
A substantial payment off the liability must of been made as €30k had already been offered as a gesture of goodwill in the court but it had been turned down, I doubt it is the last of P&O's troubles.
More on this topic P&O to furlough a further 300 staff (1,100 previously laid off). Four English Channel ships to be laid up they are the Prides of Burgundy, Canterbury and Seaway, Pride of Kent is to be laid up later this week.
looks like they are laying up a ship on larne cairnryan as well
only 3 sailings a day in each direction next week
wouldn't be surprised if the laid up clipper pennant as well
just not enough volume moving
people must be concerned re all bad publicity p and o have had re not paying
bills
Interview with the boss of DP World owners of P&O Ferries this morning on BBC news. The nerve and cheek of the owners is unreal they are demanding a £150 million bailout from the UK government and are threatening the UK supply lines if they do not get it and at the same time are paying out a massive £270 million dividend to shareholders. Interview on BBC News website.
Two P&O Ferries are to be laid up in Leith on the River Forth, one is expected on saturday (which I presume is the pride of burgundy as it is on anchor in the forth) and the other is expected to be arriving on Monday, not sure which the 2nd vessle is
Quote from: ferryfan on April 17, 2020, 04:14:37 PM
Extra capacity for Liverpool is available with Stena Foreteller anchored just off Balbriggan since Ulysses's return from dry dock. I wonder have Stena deliberately left her in the vicinity knowing that things were not well at P&O?
The Pride of Cantebury is en route to Leith Bruges is laid up in Rotterdam. There are a fair few cruise ships either at anchor or slowly moving around the English Channel.
Next P&O vessle to be laid up in Leith is the Pride Of Canterbury as it is anchored in the river forth
Despite having received millions in support through wage support schemes and freight support schemes P&O have now decided to make 1,100 of its staff redundant. It appears that they intend to permanently downsize their operations with less ships in the fleet. A local Dover MP has called for the company to either stump up the cash to keep going from their own resources or to sell the company to more responsible owners (wishful thinking).
P&O are to close their HUll to Zeebrugge route according to local media (Hull Live).The two vessels on the route Prides of York and Bruges both built in 1987 are to be scrapped. It is also being rumoured that two other of their channel fleet are also to be disposed of.
Quote from: ferryfan on October 01, 2020, 11:01:57 AM
P&O are to close their HUll to Zeebrugge route according to local media (Hull Live).The two vessels on the route Prides of York and Bruges both built in 1987 are to be scrapped. It is also being rumoured that two other of their channel fleet are also to be disposed of.
No reason to think they will definitely be scrapped although it's a tough time for operators looking to buy new tonnage and they aren't in great condition.
With the demise of the Pride of York there won't be a significant UK-built passenger ship sailing from this country for what must be the first time in about 300 years :-\
Quote from: hhvferry on October 02, 2020, 06:18:24 AM
Quote from: ferryfan on October 01, 2020, 11:01:57 AM
P&O are to close their HUll to Zeebrugge route according to local media (Hull Live).The two vessels on the route Prides of York and Bruges both built in 1987 are to be scrapped. It is also being rumoured that two other of their channel fleet are also to be disposed of.
No reason to think they will definitely be scrapped although it's a tough time for operators looking to buy new tonnage and they aren't in great condition.
With the demise of the Pride of York there won't be a significant UK-built passenger ship sailing from this country for what must be the first time in about 300 years :-\
Indeed. One thing in their favour is the approved facilities at Aliaga are rather busy with cruise ships at present, and I assume the scrap price isn't great either given scrap metal isn't in short supply at present.
Interestingly there have been reports that cruise ships have been sold below scrap value just to move them on!
There was an engine room fire onboard P&O's Pride Of Hull last night https://www-hulldailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/live-fire-breaks-out-po-4625655.amp?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16032738769266&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulldailymail.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fhull-east-yorkshire-news%2Flive-fire-breaks-out-po-4625655
Any updates of P&O from what I can see Stena Forecaster has not made a crossing since Sunday.
Rumours that the Pride of Bruges and the Pride of York are being sold to GNV. York has been laid up in Rotterdam since December while Bruges has been laid up in Zeebrugge since January.