Union bosses have hit out at P&O Ferries over plans to scrap the Hull to Zeebrugge crossing.
The move would be a huge blow for holidaymakers who use the route to get between East Yorkshire and the continent. It would also see the loss of a significant number of jobs.
P&O has not confirmed the route will be scrapped, but has said “difficult decisions” are having to be made in light of the impact of coronavirus.
But the RMT Union understands the route will go.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “In the summer, P&O Ferries received more than £6.6m from the taxpayer on the two Port of Hull routes, including Hull-Zeebrugge.
“This does not need to happen, but P&O’s owners in Dubai have pulled the plug on this vital route with no consultation, threatening jobs, passenger services and the recovery of Hull’s maritime economy.
“We have consistently warned the Government that they need to protect seafarer jobs on international ferry routes from further attacks, but they have failed to take action.
“This must change and all jobs lost from the closure of the Hull-Zeebrugge route must transfer to the Pride of Rotterdam on the Hull-Rotterdam route.
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“Our members must not be denied these jobs by crewing contracts that pay below the national minimum wage.”
According to reports, the Pride of Bruges and the Pride of York, the vessels that regularly sail the route, will be scrapped.
They have gone between Hull and the Belgian port since the early 2000s.
When asked if the crossing was being scrapped, a P&O spokesman told the BBC: “We are having to take difficult action in which some jobs may be made redundant, but thousands more jobs will be saved.”
It is understood that the route will be stopped in April.
The cancellation would leave P&O Ferries with sailings between Hull and Rotterdam, the more popular of the two routes.
The Hull and Humber Environment Forum has also reacted to the news.
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A spokesman said: “If the loss of the Zeebrugge ferry service is confirmed it will have a devastating impact on the city.
“Apart from the uncertainty of Covid, one of the determining factors is the age of both vessels - the Pride of York and Pride of Bruges.
“Both are due to be replaced because of their age and to meet EU emission standards, so with the long lead up to commissioning new vessels an investment decision would be required sooner or later.
“The Zeebrugge service has always been the less popular of the two in terms of passenger loading, but it is likely P&O would retain a freight-only vessel. Today, the Hull service is the only passenger service that links the growing Belgium port Zeebrugge with the 海角视频.”
The Pride of Bruges has travelled this route since 2001 and transports 141 crew with 1,050 passengers.
The Pride of York was originally built in 1986 and was refurbished and refitted in 2001 before entering service as part of our Hull to Zeebrugge fleet.