P&O ferry detained over a ‘number of deficiencies’
A P&O ferry has been detained by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, after an inspection found “a number of deficiencies”.
The Spirit of Britain, based in Dover to serve the Dover to Calais route, cannot sail until issues have been addressed and a further inspection is carried out. According to BBC News, it is doubtful P&O Ferries will be able to resume its Dover operations before the busy Easter weekend.
A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “The Spirit of Britain has been detained due to surveyors identifying a number of deficiencies which were grounds for detention.
“We have advised P&O to invite us back once they have addressed the issues. We do not know yet when this will be.”
The Pride of Kent, which normally serves the Dover to Calais route, also remains under detention following an inspection on 28 March which ITV News reports highlighted ‘failures on vessel documentation, crew familiarisation and training, and emergency equipment not functioning properly, indicating a failure of the implementation of a safety management system’.
The resulting lack of ferries is expected to further disrupt travel between Dover and Calais, following the severe delays seen at the port at end of last week.
These detentions are the next in a series of issues for P&O Ferries which recently received criticism over the sacking of 800 crew, leading to calls from the RMT to seize the P&O fleet and reinstate the sacked crew.
