Ferry operator P&O Ferries has told Recruiterthat the ‘re-flagging’ of two ships under either the Bermudan or Bahamas flag will protect staff rather than put their jobs in jeopardy.

A P&O spokesperson said the move was designed “flag is to safeguard the status quo for staff working on those ships and for our business” in light of the UK Equality Act and other employment legislation.

Maritime union RMT on Wednesday released a damning press release criticising P&O for “undermining pay and conditions” and attempting to “avoid increased wage costs”, with union general Bob Crow calling the decision “a blatant and transparent attempt by P&O to avoid their obligations under the new Agency Workers Regulations and they have publicly admitted that” and “a scandal”.

The P&O spokesperson continued: “If we didn’t take this precaution, and down the line found we were exposed in a way that undermines the business and jobs, we’d be criticised.

“Re-flagging does not affect the terms and conditions of staff currently employed on those ships, it doesn’t affect the way that we recruit to those ships in the future and it doesn’t affect the way that we operate the ships.”

The spokesperson added that a number of its ships, including all of those in the Irish Sea fleet, sail under foreign flags.