The Swedish company Stena mainly provides services in the Irish Sea and not in the English Channel. It has already operated additional routes between Britain and Ireland. A spokesman said he had no plans to operate outside Dover.
Mr Shapps and operators are also expected to discuss the long-term implications of the government’s plans to impose a minimum wage on seafarers. Given P & O’s previous comments that it is not viable unless it reduces staff costs, its owners in Dubai could instead choose to expand the business.
DFDS and Stena Line declined to comment on the talks.
City stockbrokers warn that if repression were imposed, P&O would have no choice but to “limit”
John Musk, an analyst at Royal Bank of Canada, said: “Either P&O Ferries remains in the English Channel with a lower cost base, but a damaged consumer brand or it is shrinking.”
Irish Ferries could also be hit hard. It moved its ships to the Cypriot registry in 2006 and has since faced protests from trade unions over allegations that it does not pay the minimum wage.
Hull East Labor MP Karl Turner said: “If P&O does not reverse this illegal decision, there will definitely be chaos.”
A spokesman for the prime minister and Mr Saps have called for Mr Heblewt to resign after appearing before a House of Commons committee on Thursday.
Labor this weekend called on Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng to strip Mr Hebblethwaite of his right to run a company.
A government spokesman said: “The Minister of Business already has a letter to the Insolvency Service asking them to urgently undertake a thorough investigation into the actions of P&O Ferries.
“This will include any margin for legal action against the company’s directors. “We will not hesitate to take further action if we find evidence of wrongdoing.”
A spokesman for the Ministry of Transport said: “Ministers are working to understand how we can ensure the continuity of services in cooperation with other bodies, including DFDS and Stena.”
“We are clear that the government does not support the actions of P&O Ferries [or] “DP World and therefore we strive to ensure that we can promote strong working relationships with employers who we believe treat their employees in a more acceptable manner.”
