Ferry jobs bombshell (From Western Telegraph)

Ferry jobs bombshell

Nearly a dozen senior ferry staff at Fishguard are worried they will have to reapply for their jobs on the fast ferry Lynx III following a Stena Line switch to seasonal crewing.

Up to now, ferry masters and senior officers have been employed on a 12-month basis. But the rechartering of the Lynx III on a time charter basis means they will be re-engaged on a seasonal footing.

Those affected include one senior captain, a senior chief engineer, four chief engineers, two senior engineers, a navigation officer, an electro-technical officer and a chief engineering clerk.

The ferry, which carries 620 passengers and 140 cars, made its last trip of the season ten days ago and crews have been given no guarantee they will be re-employed next season. They will have to re-apply for their jobs to Stena Line subsidiary Northern Marine Management.

It is not a question of compulsory redundancy but we are looking at transfer of undertaking at the moment, said Stenas Dublin spokesman, Mr Eamon Hewitt.

We have decided that since the Lynx III has been a seasonal service it is probably not the best way to staff a ship on a 12-month contract. We are looking at transfer of undertaking of staff to Northern Marine, which is owned by Stena Line, and we are looking at absorbing them in other areas of the business, including the conventional ferry at Fishguard and the Belfast-Stranraer and Holyhead-Dublin routes.

The officers, who are reluctant to comment, are bitterly disappointed over what they see as arbitrary dismissal with only 30 days notice for consultation.

They have operated as a team since the introduction of the Lynx service six years ago and have built up expertise on the route.

Stena Line stated that time charter was the most efficient method of operating the craft, adding: This will have an impact on the staffing of the vessel and consequently appropriate consultation is now taking place with employees and their union respresentatives.

The company confirmed it has signed a new two-year charter deal with the Lynx IIIs owners, American Fast Ferries Ltd.