merelygifted:

Stewards sought on Facebook to replace crew members sacked without notice

One of the maritime agencies recruiting workers for P&O Ferries is advertising for crew members, saying no previous experience at sea required.

Union officials warn that P&O Ferries could be jeopardising safety after dismissing 800 crew members and replacing them with workers paid less than the minimum wage. One of the firm’s vessels has been detained at Larne in Northern Ireland for being “unfit to sail” because of concerns over training.

One of the companies recruiting for P&O Ferries, CSM Baltics – part of Columbia Shipmanagement, one of the world’s largest ship managers – has posted an ad on Facebook saying: “We are looking for a large number of stewards to work 12 hours day on board our ships and to have rest of 12 hours in hotels in France. No seafarers’ documents are needed, just previous experience in hospitality institutions.”

The ad goes on to say the stewards will work a pattern of eight weeks on and eight weeks off.  …