Public outcry against P&O Ferries and its parent company DP World has continued in the UK, with the sackings making the front pages and sparking a debate in parliament.

Even taking into account the lamentable record of the shipping industry’s general treatment of its seafaring workforce throughout history, the cack-handed instant dismissal of 800 ferry workers by P&O Ferries seemed to mark a new low.

P&O Ferries’ decision to fire 800 seafarers without warning has drawn widespread condemnation across parliament, unions and social media.

P&O Ferries terminated 800 seafarers amidst widespread reports that they will be replaced with non-union agency labour.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has called for the setting up of a safe corridor for the safe evacuation of seafarers and ships stranded by the invasion of Ukraine.

Nobody, I am willing to wager, would have suggested to the crews of ships bound for Ukrainian ports last month that they might have been putting their lives on the line, or finding themselves in harm’s way.

Ongoing supply chain disruption is set to be compounded by crew change complications arising from the war in Ukraine, according to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

Some 21 Filipino seafarers stranded on bulker S-Breeze in the Ukraine arrived home on Tuesday and crew for five more vessels were set to be repatriated.

The world’s largest ship manager V.Group says it is in compliance with all current sanctions as pressure mounts on businesses to cease operations in Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.

The IMO has sponsored 30 women to participate in the Maritime SheEO Leadership Acceleration Programme as part of its celebration of International Women’s Day.