Seven staff who were drafted in to replace some of the 800 P&O Ferries seafarers sacked without notice last month have been fired for returning to work after drinking alcohol.
A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said: “We can confirm that seven agency-employed seafarers who returned from shore were found to be in breach of our strict guidelines on alcohol consumption and have been dismissed with immediate effect.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is our foremost priority and we continue to operate a zero tolerance policy towards drinking whilst on duty.”
The new employees were brought in at cheaper rates after P&O Ferries said it had no alternative but to sack its staff and replace them with new workers on below the minimum wage.