P&O Ferries have been put under the spotlight as an ex-worker reveals how the sacking scandal unfolded aboard his ship on 17 March and detailed the chaotic journey home that ensued.
The seafarer, who spoke to GB News exclusively, described how workers disembarked the ship escorted by a large security presence and how his colleagues, including one that was pregnant, struggled to find a way home from Rotterdam without food or water.
Using the pseudonym 'Tony' while withholding their name, the ex-worker opened up about the experience to Ellie Costello.
Tony said: “The captain said there was going to be a big announcement.
"He didn’t sound quite right on the tannoy. Then the security guard started coming up the gangway onto the ship.
“They told everybody to go to the front bar. Then the security guards came along and blocked all the exits.
People take part in a demonstration against the dismissal of P&O workers
Jim McVeigh/Siptu
“Then, some man in a suit read out his statement and we were all told to pack up our stuff, get off the ship as soon as possible and they will lead us to our cabins to pack.
"It was unbelievable. It felt like we’d been invaded by a load of pirates to be honest with you."
800 staff across the company were dismissed without notice.
Chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite, whose basic salary is £325,000, said he believed the company was otherwise "going to close" without action over jobs.
Tony said replacement agency workers were then brought onto the ship as they were waiting to leave.
Mr Hebblethwaite later revealed the average rate paid to the new foreign staff would be £5.50 per an hour, which is inline with international maritime standards.
He also admitted that his company broke the law by not consulting with trade unions before sacking workers.
The Pride of Kent (left) and the Pride of Canterbury (right) in Dover, Kent, after P&O Ferries sacked 800 seafarers without notice on March 17
Gareth Fuller
Tony said: "The way they treated us made you feel like you were worthless.
"We’ve worked our butts off for the last two year...And we get repaid by being sacked on the spot and being replaced by slave labour, that’s what it is."
He continued: "We were put on coaches back from Rotterdam, there was no food or water all day.
"We had a pregnant woman on our coach who was really stressed.
"We finally got to the Eurotunnel and there weren’t even any tickets booked for us. Eventually, the bus driver paid for our tickets on a company credit card and we all managed to get on our competitor DFDS's ship.
"They put the whole crew in the premium lounge where we got free tea and coffee. They treated us better than our own company."
A spokesperson for P&O said: "We profusely apologise for the difficulties people had during this journey.
"Due to reasons outside of our control, we weren’t able to use the pre-arranged route and alternative arrangements had to be made last minute."
In response, the seafarer said he did not accept P&O's apology and that "this statement sums up the way they had treated their staff".
He wishes instead to thank the British public for their support.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said P&O Ferries will be forced to “fundamentally rethink their decision” to sack nearly 800 workers.
He said in the House of Commons: “P&O Ferries’ failure to see reason, to recognise the public anger, and to do the right thing by their staff has left the Government with no choice.
“I am today announcing a package of nine measures that will force them to fundamentally rethink their decision.
“This will send a clear message to the maritime industry: we will not allow this to happen again.
“Where new laws are needed, we will create them. Where legal loopholes are cynically exploited, we will close them. And where employment rights are too weak, we will strengthen them.”