SPIRIT OF BRITAIN

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Ferry spotted boat and possible person in the water

On May 4 at around 11 p.m. the crew of the 'Spirit of Britain' spotted a wooden boat which appeared to have been in a collision and a possible person in water. The ferry slowed down and investigated the situation. Also the Dover lifeboat was tasked yo investigate the vesse. No further action was required from the ferry, and she resumed the voyage after considerable time.

P&O forced to reinstate wages

On April 22 the RMT went aboard the S'Spirit of Britain' to speak with seafarers after being previously refused access. P&O Ferries initially did not want to let them on, instead offering the use of a meeting room in the port. The RMT declined, quoting the ISPS Code, which is a comprehensive set of measures designed to strengthen the security of ships and port facilities. Once on board, the union's representatives were chaperoned to a new lounge on the ferry for pets, where the RMT inspectors were able to speak directly to newly employed workers. The RMT has spoken to a number of workers from around the world who have joined the ferry's crew who shared similar complaints. P&O Ferries had brought people in on a month contract, some on two-month contracts and then told them that they have to accept lower pay rates if they want to stay on. Others are coming in on four-month contracts on lower pay with P&O undermining safety and creating a lowest possible denominator in ferry standards. The union complained to the Maritime and Coastguard Authority (MCA) who took action, and affected seafarers' contracts were amended with their original wages reinstated.

P&O ferry had 23 defencies, another ferry remains detained

On April 26 at 7.50 a.m., the 'Spirit of Britain' has left Dover, four days after the MCA gave clearance on April 22, after the vessel was detained on April 11. The details of the inspection were also released now that the case has been closed and it shows that a total of 23 decencies were detailed including six that were grounds for the detention. While most of the focus has been on crewing issues and training, the inspection also showed issues related to the fast rescue boats which were not properly maintained, inoperative oil filtering equipment, fire doors that were not as required, and issues with fire dampers. However, a second vessel that operates on the route, the 'Pride of Kent', remains under detention. The National Unions however were continuing to call for a boycott of all the routes reiterating their demand that the company reinstate all the fired crew members. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) also leveled fresh charges against the company after union inspectors were denied permission to board the vessels at the Port of Dover. The RMT has had reports that P&O attempted to reduce the wages of the agency workers that it brought on at already reduced rates versus the fired employees.