Union chiefs have blasted the owner of P&O Ferries as "corporate gangsters" after announcing record profits just months after sacking almost 800 crew.

Dubai-based DP World drew the wrath of many when it ordered its vessels serving UK terminals back into port in March before announcing - via video link - that on-board crew were being dismissed.

They were immediately replaced by agency staff.

But this week DP World announced revenues increased by 60% to £6.6billion and profits rocketed 50% to £608m in its first half financial results for 2022.

The company said it was forced into sacking the staff as the cross-Channel and UK routes were losing £100million for each of the last two years and that the business, as a result, was "not viable".

DP World is multinational logistics company with interests in companies around the world and owned, ultimately, by Dubai's ruling royal family.

But its profits so far this year prompted an angry response from the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

Its general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said: “DP World have been allowed to get away scot-free with behaving like corporate gangsters.

“These eye-watering profits have come off the back of P&O illegally sacking hundreds of dedicated staff. They are an insult to common decency.

“Ministers should have stripped DP World of all their lucrative public contracts and severed all commercial ties with the company.

“But now they too are using the P&O playbook.

“Having slammed P&O for replacing experienced workers with agency staff, Grant Shapps has passed laws that will allow employers to bus in agency workers during strikes.

“At a time when the cost of living is soaring and wages are falling, the Conservative government wants to make it much harder for people to win better pay and conditions.”

General secretary of the National Union for Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), Mick Lynch, said the firm's "rampant profiteering" following the P&O sackings "was a stain on the government’s international reputation".

He added: "Not only has this government stood by while DP World sacked workers and replaced them with low paid agency workers, It is now planning to do the same on the railways to replace striking workers fighting for their rights."

In announcing the results, DP World chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: "We are delighted to report a record set of first half results.

"Overall, the strong first half performance leaves us well placed to deliver improved full year results."

A spokesman for DP World did not wish to comment on the unions' response when contacted by KentOnline.

P&O's hugely controversial decision to sack staff sparked a huge political backlash and caused chaos to its Dover to Calais service.

Passenger services were cancelled for almost seven weeks, contributing to huge traffic chaos on Kent's roads during the busy Easter getaway. It only got the nod for all vessels to return to service at the end of May.