P&O's Hull-Zeebrugge route faces the axe in major blow to region

Seen from the bridge, the P&O North Sea Ferry 'Pride of York' leaves the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium for one of her nightly crossings to Hull. Picture: Terry Carrott

MPs, unions and business leaders have been reacting to 'incredibly worrying' news that P&O's Hull-Zeebrugge route is to be axed.

The RMT union said a consultation had started over 81 redundancies among ratings and officers, including 16 ratings on the Pride of York in Hull and 37 in Dover.

The redundancies would be made between November 30 and March 31.

Staff have been told Pride of York and Pride of Bruges will be taken out of service and sold. The two ships together normally operate the nightly 14-hour crossing with seven two-way journeys a week. Two other ships out of Dover - Pride of Burgundy and European Seaway - face the same fate.

The Pride of York moored at The King George Dock in Hull Picture: Mike Cowling

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said the company had received over £6.6m in taxpayer support during lockdown for the Hull to Zeebrugge and Hull to Rotterdam routes.

But P&O’s owners in Dubai had "pulled the plug on this vital route with no consultation, threatening jobs, passenger services and the recovery of Hull’s maritime economy.

“We have consistently warned the Government that they need to protect seafarer jobs on international ferry routes from further attacks but they have failed to take action."

However East Hull MP Karl Turner said while "incredibly worrying if it's true" but added: "I am not convinced that this isn't a shot across the bows from P&O for more support - though they have had £6.6m, they may be after more money.

"They used Covid as a reason to sack B