Fifty-five assistant managers are being made redundant at P&O Ferries, in a bid to slim down the cross-Channel ferry operator's management.

KenOnline understands that staff were told at the start of the week and that a 45-day consultation period will determine the future of the workers.

P&O has proposed to create 49 more roles for assistant stewards, including six more manager roles.

Press officer, Brian Rees said: “The proposal is for a flatter management structure on board by making 55 posts for assistant managers redundant and creating 49 more roles for assistant stewards."

"It is very early days as we’ve only just started a 45 day consultation period.

“Within the port we’ve benchmarked our salaries against those of other operators and know we pay significantly more which is making us uncompetitive, so we need to consider how we might address that going forward.

“The consultation will be to discuss ways we might be able to reduce our costs.”

Unconfirmed reports from a P&O worker, who did not want to be named, suggested that some wage packets will be cut in the changes.