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Displaying items by tag: Maritime Union

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) in the UK, has responded to the prospect that P&O Ferries is to end the jobs of 60 workers.

As Riviera News reports, the ferry operator has said that the proposals do not affect those below leadership level in any of its operations using ports in the UK, Ireland and Europe or any colleagues aboard its ferries.

Mick Lynch, the general secretary of RMT said in a statement, “This is another shameful chapter in the history of P&O Ferries where yet again they show scant regard for the livelihoods of their workforce.”

P&O is considering in cutting 60 UK jobs and follows last year's mass sacking of almost 800 seafarers which also drew political criticism on both sides of the Irish Sea.

The company added they are consulting with colleagues and trade unions about the proposed changes to its management structure. As Afloat also reported, last month the RMT held a rally in Dover on the 1st anniversary of the firings to ferry and shore-based personnel.

Mr Lynch said, "Another 60 job losses comes on the back of introducing new vessels to its fleet at a cost of over £200m (US$249m). Over the past 12 months, this company has demonstrated no loyalty or commitment to its workforce or local economies in the ports in which it operates while jeopardising the safety of travelling passengers.”

More here on the operator that has a route network including the Irish Sea where it serves the Dublin-Liverpool and Larne-Cairnryan routes.

Published in Ferry

#ferries - A UK transport union is continuing its programme of objections to ferry and other shipping operators who sail under flags of convenience and skirt around UK employment laws and rates of pay with a protest which will take place this Friday, at Holyhead Port, Anglesey in north Wales. 

The protest by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), according to HandyShippingGuide is to commence at 06:30 hours and targeting the 08:25 sailing of the Irish Ferries RoRo freight and passenger ferry WB Yeats, is to demand seafarer jobs, enforcement of employment law and trade union rights according to the union.

The €144 million luxury vessel (made a delivery voyage to Dublin Port) in December and (last month entered service) is registered under the Cypriot flag which has incensed the union.

For further reading on this ferry development, click here 

Afloat adds the sailing targeted does not tally with W.B. Yeats roster, as according to the Irish Ferries website the ropax Epsilon is to depart Holyhead at the slightly earlier time of 08.15. While on that morning W.B. Yeats will notably be on the other side of the Irish Sea with a scheduled departure from Dublin at 08.05hrs. 

 

Published in Ferry

The Half Ton Class was created by the Offshore Racing Council for boats within the racing band not exceeding 22'-0". The ORC decided that the rule should "....permit the development of seaworthy offshore racing yachts...The Council will endeavour to protect the majority of the existing IOR fleet from rapid obsolescence caused by ....developments which produce increased performance without corresponding changes in ratings..."

When first introduced the IOR rule was perfectly adequate for rating boats in existence at that time. However yacht designers naturally examined the rule to seize upon any advantage they could find, the most noticeable of which has been a reduction in displacement and a return to fractional rigs.

After 1993, when the IOR Mk.III rule reached it termination due to lack of people building new boats, the rule was replaced by the CHS (Channel) Handicap system which in turn developed into the IRC system now used.

The IRC handicap system operates by a secret formula which tries to develop boats which are 'Cruising type' of relatively heavy boats with good internal accommodation. It tends to penalise boats with excessive stability or excessive sail area.

Competitions

The most significant events for the Half Ton Class has been the annual Half Ton Cup which was sailed under the IOR rules until 1993. More recently this has been replaced with the Half Ton Classics Cup. The venue of the event moved from continent to continent with over-representation on French or British ports. In later years the event is held biennially. Initially, it was proposed to hold events in Ireland, Britain and France by rotation. However, it was the Belgians who took the ball and ran with it. The Class is now managed from Belgium. 

At A Glance – Half Ton Classics Cup Winners

  • 2017 – Kinsale – Swuzzlebubble – Phil Plumtree – Farr 1977
  • 2016 – Falmouth – Swuzzlebubble – Greg Peck – Farr 1977
  • 2015 – Nieuwport – Checkmate XV – David Cullen – Humphreys 1985
  • 2014 – St Quay Portrieux – Swuzzlebubble – Peter Morton – Farr 1977
  • 2013 – Boulogne – Checkmate XV – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1985
  • 2011 – Cowes – Chimp – Michael Kershaw – Berret 1978
  • 2009 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978
  • 2007 – Dun Laoghaire – Henri-Lloyd Harmony – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1980~
  • 2005 – Dinard – Gingko – Patrick Lobrichon – Mauric 1968
  • 2003 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978

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