P&O Ferries resumes Scotland-Northern Ireland sailings
The European Causeway vessel used on the route between Cairnryan and Larne was released from detention on Friday.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.P&O Ferries has resumed passenger sailings between Scotland and Northern Ireland amid confusion for passengers.
The operator told travellers on Sunday that “tourist travel” would not restart until Thursday.
But on Monday it posted on Twitter than it had resumed a three-services-per-day schedule for passengers and freight.
The DP World-owned company operated freight-only sailings on Sunday.
The European Causeway vessel it uses on the route between Cairnryan, Scotland and Larne, Northern Ireland was detained by maritime officials last month.
This was due to safety concerns after the company sacked nearly 800 seafarers and replaced them with cheaper agency workers.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced on Friday that the boat had been released following a reinspection.
Sailings by P&O Ferries remain suspended between Dover and Calais until at least Good Friday.
The resumption of services is dependent on regulatory approval.
P&O Ferries has accused the MCA of carrying out inspections with “an unprecedented level of rigour”.
The agency responded by insisting it works “in exactly the same robust way” for every ship.
The reduction in cross-Channel sailings has caused gridlock on major roads approaching the Port of Dover in recent days.
A 23-mile coastbound stretch of the M20 is closed from junction eight (Maidstone) to junction 11 (Westenhanger) to store thousands of lorries as part of Operation Brock.
This is causing chaos on surrounding local roads.
Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke said: “The roads chaos affecting Dover and Kent caused by P&O Ferries is expected to continue into this Easter week.
“It is vital that Dover is kept clear amid the continuing roads disruption.
“Residents must be able to get about to work, attend medical appointments and visit family and friends.
“I am pressing for active policing of the key pinch points across our area and for blockages to be dealt with swiftly where they have arisen locally.
“P&O and DP World should be held to account for this disruption which they have needlessly and wrongfully caused.”