Beggs questions if Ferry power loss was related to loss of experienced crew
Ulster Unionist East Antrim Assembly candidate Roy Beggs has asked if yesterday’s loss of power experienced by P&O’s European Causeway ferry was in any way due to the recent sacking of experienced crew.
Roy Beggs said:
“I welcome the decision of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to hold the European Causeway for further inspection in Larne. The North Channel is a notorious stretch of water that has strong currents and can have high seas and we were fortunate that there were calm seas yesterday when there was a total loss of power and the ship was left drifting on its journey from Cairnryan.
“It is highly unusual that a ship would ever suffer such a failure and it raises the very obvious question as to whether or not this incident was related in any way to the sacking of all staff and hiring of agency workers?
“There is no question that public confidence has been badly shaken in P&O and the senior management who took the decision to sack hundreds of staff should go.”