P&O Ferries has said all sailings will be suspended “for the next few days” following confirmation that UK seafaring staff will be made redundant.

The company posted on Twitter: “P&O Ferries services are unable to run for the next few days.

“We are advising travellers of alternative arrangements.”

After hours of rumour, speculation and – at the ports – some chaos, P&O Ferries has issued a statement about the sudden sacking of 800 seafarers.

A spokesperson for the ferry firm said: “P&O Ferries plays a critical role in keeping trade flowing, supply chains moving, and connecting families and friends across the North and Irish seas and the English Channel. We have been at the heart of this service for years and we are committed to serving these vital routes.

“However, in its current state, P&O Ferries is not a viable business. We have made a £100m loss year on year, which has been covered by our parent DP World. This is not sustainable. Our survival is dependent on making swift and significant changes now. Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries.

“These circumstances have resulted in a very difficult but necessary decision, which was only taken after seriously considering all the available options. As part of the process we are starting today, we are providing 800 seafarers with immediate severance notices and will be compensating them for this lack of advance notice with enhanced compensation packages.

“In making this tough decision, we are securing the future viability of our business which employs an additional 2,200 people and supports billions in trade in and out of the UK. And we are ensuring that we can continue serving our customers in a way that they have demanded from us for many years.”

Mark Dickinson, general secretary of maritime union Nautilus International, said: “The news that P&O Ferries is sacking the crew across its entire UK fleet is a betrayal of British workers.

”It is nothing short of scandalous given that this Dubai-owned company received millions of pounds of British taxpayers' money during the pandemic.

“There was no consultation and no notice given by P&O.

“Be assured the full resources of Nautilus International stand ready to act in defence of our members.

“We believe it is in our members’ best interests to stay onboard until further notice.”

There are reports that the captain of P&O Ferries ship the Pride of Hull will refuse to allow the police to board if they attempt to do so.

Labour MP Karl Turner posted on social media: “I’m hearing that the captain of the Pride of Hull will refuse to allow the police to board the vessel if @POferries ask them to do so.

“The official sit in of the ship is supported by both @nautilusint members (officers) and @RMTunion members.”

A P&O Ferries crew member, who wished to remain anonymous, has said sailing staff have lost their jobs, effective immediately.

He told KentOnline: “As of effect from today all our contracts have been terminated and we've all been made redundant.”

Labour MP Karl Turner tweeted a photograph of a coach which he stated contained “new foreign crew waiting to board the Pride of Hull” at King George Dock, Hull.

RMT members are “sitting in onboard the vessel”, so the new crew “will not be boarding her”, he wrote.

He added: “We understand that both current officers and ratings are to be sacked.”

In response to reports that all UK P&O Ferries sailing staff will be made redundant, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) general secretary Roz Foyer said: “This is a damning, outrageous move from P&O and we offer our full support to the RMT union and all their members.

”We cannot - and will not - permit hundreds of workers to be sacked on the spot to be replaced by cheaper labour whilst P&O scramble to remain viable.

“We need to see an urgent statement from both the UK Government and the Scottish Government on how they intend to halt this scandalous misuse of employer power.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the House of Commons he is “concerned” by the situation regarding P&O Ferries.

He said: “I understand they have temporarily paused their operations and that’s causing disruption at the short straits – Calais-Dover – as well as some other ports.

“I’m working with the Kent Resilience Forum and I’ve just instructed them to become intricately involved, and other partners in this, and we’ll be taking steps later today – including ensuring that my officials will be having urgent discussions with P&O about the situation, particularly of concern for their workers.”

Truck drivers are experiencing long queues as P&O Ferries suspends sailings ahead of its “major” announcement.

One driver in Calais due to return to the UK said he had been waiting for a ferry since 6am.

“More than anything I'm frustrated at the fact nobody from P&O was there to help and advise ... I've never had such shoddy service from anybody,” he told news agency PA.

The driver had to rebook with DFDS, saying: “I've had to exit the port and go through the entire process again, not to mention paying for another ticket at a higher price with them.”

“I would have appreciated somebody at least telling us what to do”, he added.

Meanwhile, on this side of the Channel, The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder reported witnessing “truck chaos” at Dover.

Reports are emerging that hundreds of UK P&O Ferries staff could lose their jobs as the company gears up for a “major” announcement later today.

Rumours in the industry suggest that the ferry line, which is owned by the Dubai-based company DP World, may be making large-scale redundancies and replacing crew with seafarers recruited from abroad.

ITV’s Shehab Khan tweeted: “Understand that all sailing staff at P&O Ferries have been made redundant with immediate effect. The company will use an agency to keep their ferries running and current staff will be able to apply to the agency for work.”

P&O ferries has denied reports that it is going into liquidation, simply stating: “We have asked all ships to come alongside, in preparation for a company announcement.

“Until then, services from P&O will not be running and we are advising travellers of alternative arrangements.”

Responding to reports about the future of P&O and speculation that hundreds of UK seafarers employed by the company could be replaced by foreign labour RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said,

“We are deeply disturbed by growing speculation that the company are today planning to sack hundreds of UK seafarers and replace them with foreign labour.

“We have instructed our members to remain onboard and are demanding our members across P&O’s UK operations are protected and that the Secretary of State intervenes to save UK seafarers from the dole queue.”