Jobs to go at LD Lines in Dover
Members of the crew of fast-ferry Norman Arrow, which currently operates between Dover and Boulogne, have received calls from recruitment firm Clyde Marine telling them they will no longer be required when the ship is transferred to Portsmouth next week.
Of a total crew of 60, 9 posts are being lost. A crew of 13 will remain with the ship during her winter lay-up, and 38 employees wll be transferred to Norman Spirit, the conventional ferry being brought in to replace Norman Arrow on the Boulogne route.
The posts are going primarily in the deck and catering departments - and many of those losing their jobs are former employees of SpeedFerries who were made redundant almost exactly a year ago when that business went under.
One Able Seaman, who did not want to be identified, told us of the shock among the crew as the news of redundancies spread.
He said: "We have been promised for five weeks there would be jobs when the new ship comes in, now we are getting these phone calls saying they don't need us any more.
"The mood is disgusting, we have been let down, they are just hanging us out to dry. We are ex-SpeedFerries crew, so yet again it's the dole queue for Christmas."
Comment on this story