P&O Ferries halts sailings before ‘major announcement’

P&O Ferries has suspended sailings before a “major announcement”.

A statement that appears to be from the ferry operator, posted on Twitter by the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East, Karl Turner, Karl Turner, said it “will be making a major announcement today”.

This will “secure the long-term viability of P&O Ferries”, it said.

The statement added: “To facilitate this announcement, all our vessels have been asked to discharge their passengers and cargo and stand by for further instructions. This means we are expecting all our ports to experience serious disruption today.”

<p lang=«en» dir=«ltr» xml:lang=«en»>.⁦@POferries⁩ have apparently instructed their crews both ratings and officers to tie up vessel’s as they are making a ‘major’ announcement today. This is troubling for crews and their families. I am in contact with ratings and officer unions regarding this. pic.twitter.com/W2Kh5WNval

P&O Ferries tweeted: “Regretfully, P&O Ferries services are unable to run for the next few hours.

“Our port teams will guide you and travel will be arranged via an alternative operator. We apologise for the inconvenience this will have on your journey plans.”

<p lang=«en» dir=«ltr» xml:lang=«en»>#PODover 11:15 — Regretfully, P&O Ferries services are unable to run for the next few hours. Please arrive at the port as booked and we will arrange to get you away on an alternative carrier as quickly as possible. Once at the port please make your way to the DFDS check-in booths

The company denied it was going into liquidation. A spokesperson said: “P&O Ferries is not going into liquidation. We have asked all ships to come alongside, in preparation for a company announcement.

“Until then, services from P&O will not be running and we are advising

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