Pride of Kent resumes services from Dover
Published: 15:39, 20 May 2022
Updated: 16:26, 20 May 2022
A second P&O ship is now running from the Port of Dover.
The Pride of Kent is back in action, and is running eight services a day between Kent and Calais.
The ship had been berthed at Dover since March 17, when P&O axed nearly 800 seafarers in a shock move with no consultation or prior warning.
The firm said the decision was necessary to keep the business from collapsing.
After making its staff redundant, P&O brought in agency staff to run its ships on cheaper wages.
Protests were held following the move, with calls to boycott the company also heard.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) were also tasked with carrying out safety inspections on the ships before they could set sail again.
The Pride of Kent failed its first inspection, and then was reinspected a further three times before it was finally passed earlier this month.
A record number of deficiencies were found on the ship however.
But it is now taking passengers and freight across the Channel again.
Its sister ship, Spirit of Britain, is also running from Dover, and is currently making nine crossings a day.
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Sam Williams