Up to 60 employees,The Irish Times writes, who lost their jobs when P&O Ferries sacked them on Thursday are from Ireland, their trade union has stated.

Maritime union, Nautilus International, official Mickey Smyth said he estimated that 25 workers from the Republic and 35 from the North are among the 800 who were dismissed without notice on Thursday.

Most work on the European Causeway vessel which sails between Larne and Cairnryan, see Afloat's previous related coverage. 

The workers affected were employed by a hiring agency in Jersey and are subject to UK law.

Mr Smyth said the workers on the P&O Ferries ferry between Liverpool and Dublin (see terminal staff story) are not affected as they are employed under Dutch law.

The company said its services between Liverpool and Dublin resumed on Saturday.

The Dublin-Liverpool route is serviced by two roll-on, roll-off passenger and freight ships (ro-pax), the Bermuda-flagged Norbay and the Dutch-flagged Norbank (as pictured above the Rotterdam registered ro-pax).

The Norbank left Dublin Port at 7.30am on Saturday morning for a scheduled sailing and is due back from Liverpool on Saturday.

More here on this ferry industry development.