LIFEBOAT FALLS OFF LOW WAGE P&O FERRY

Corner cutting on P&O Ferries now typical as it exploits low wage agency workers

RMT has written to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) after a lifeboat fell off the new P&O vessel P&O Pioneer last month whilst using low paid agency crew.

Accidents involving lifeboats are a key concern and, following P&O’s illegal sacking of 800 seafarers last year, maritime inspectors listed an unprecedented 31 separate failings on P&O Ferries vessels, ranging from problems with fire safety to lifeboat drills.

According to the Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA), lifeboat drills are becoming increasingly dangerous. The worst cases occur when crew members are loaded aboard lifeboats and have to rehearse the entire abandon-ship procedure. Many accidents are caused by mechanical or design flaws in the lifeboat or other equipment. Insufficient training, sloppy procedures or human error also contribute to lifeboat drill accidents.

Seafarers working on P&O Ferries are low paid agency crew, predominantly recruited overseas by Maltese crewing agent IFM. IFM was set up to supply agency labour to P&O Ferries before the unlawful dismissal of nearly 800 directly employed UK ratings and officers last March. In the aftermath of these dismissals, the MCA detained P&O Ferries’ ships a number of times for safety failings, including crew lifeboat drills. Despite government’s protestations, an Indian AB on the Pride of Canterbury is contracted by IFM to work 17 weeks straight, 12 hours a day, seven days a week, for a basic hourly rate of £3.94.

The Chinese-built vessel is due for delivery on the DoverCalais route to replace the Pride of Canterbury and this crewing model will be used on P&O Ferries’ Pioneer.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that this sort of corner cutting on basic maritime safety was typical of P&O Ferries.

“Nothing could demonstrate P&O Ferries’ contempt for maritime safety standards more spectacularly, especially when you take into account the knackering 17- week contracts low paid agency crew are working on P&O’s fleet, including those registered under the Cypriot flag of convenience.

“The irony is that this government signed an agreement with the Cypriot register in February, with the specific aim of enhancing maritime safety.

“We are in contact with the MCA and our comrades in the French trade unions to ensure that P&O Ferries cannot sail their new ship without a functional set of life saving appliances on board,” he said.