Upload video Video is not available The video will play automatically soon8Cancel Play now P&O Ferries: A criminal investigation into the shootings has begun The scandal-stricken P&O Ferries suspended flights this weekend and told customers to book with another company even though they had announced they would continue. The shipping company had suspended operations since March after firing 800 employees in a move that sparked outrage with ax-wielding crew members being replaced by workers. Writing on the P&O Updates Twitter account, they said: “All P&O Ferries passenger services are suspended this weekend. “For April 8/9/10 trips, please book again directly with another carrier before arriving at the port.” Just yesterday it was announced that they were ready to start services this weekend. But today they announced in an update on the internet that they have already been canceled. The shipping company had suspended its services since March (archive photo) ( Picture: PA) The announcement will undoubtedly worsen the involvement in the M20 in which Operation Brock has been instigated, reports Kent Online. Today, the eighth day of a trip to Kent, there is a huge queue waiting to enter Dover Harbor. Rival DFDS has warned of delays of up to two hours in its services from Dover to Calais and is not accepting P&O customers. Trucks in line at Brock at M20 on Thursday ( Picture: PA) Chris Parker, director of the DFDS, said he was running the ferry “as fast as we could.” The ferry company has booked more than 40,000 passengers for its Dover flights this weekend, a 50% increase over the weekend. 30,000,000 are expected to take to the streets in anticipation of the Easter holidays. About 13.6 million are expected on Good Friday alone. Heavy traffic on the M2, near Faversham, as drivers try to avoid Brock on the M20 on Thursday ( Picture: PA) With travel chaos continuing this weekend as thousands of holidaymakers and truckers face further delays to Dover Harbor, fears are mounting that the local council is going to declare a “major incident”. In an open letter, Dover Regional Council Chairman Trevor Bartlett said the city “will not tolerate another weekend stalemate.” Mr Bartlett added: “We will be monitoring the situation closely throughout the weekend and I will not hesitate to authorize DDC officials to report a major incident if we see signs of the kind of congestion that was observed last weekend.” Truck congestion at the port of Dover ( Picture: ANDY RAIN / EPA-EFE / REX / Shutterstock) The statement of a major incident would “force the issue” and “provoke a stronger response” from the authorities, Mr Bartlett said. Passengers heading to the port are advised to leave “a lot of extra time”. National Highways said: “All drivers planning to travel in or through Kent should plan ahead, follow the diversion signs, check before traveling and leave plenty of extra time for their journey.” DFDS ferries report two-hour delays in their services from Dover to Calais and do not accept P&O customers. P&O Ferries announced the update on Twitter ( Picture: PA) DFDS capacity manager Chris Parker urged people not to travel to the port unless they had booked in advance. DFDS had acquired P&O customers, was left without a transfer when the company laid off 800 people and canceled its services in March. But it will not take these passengers on the “rush weekend”. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Parker said: “We can not take the full cargo of our own passengers and then have more passengers than P&O, we just do not have the capacity. “We decided it would be best to focus on our own passengers and not disappoint P&O passengers arriving at the port. “The worst thing is for people to come and say, ‘We’re really sorry but we do not have room for you.’ “It’s unfortunate.” Most P&O services still suspended three weeks after mass layoffs of 800 employees All six DFDS vessels operate at full capacity on Friday, with 54 voyages along the English Channel. Mr Parker urged people to make advanced bookings and not “show up at the port”. He said, “We will not be able to process you.” A 23-mile section of the M20 in Kent remains closed as part of Operation Brock. We will bring you the latest updates, photos and videos for this breaking news. read more Easter chaos with delays at airports and vaccinated roads as families face travel misery read more Travel chaos is predicted for the Easter holidays amid troubles at the airport and railway engineering works
