There are safety concerns over using cheaper replacement crews, as one ship is found to be 'unfit to sail'.
Protests have taken place at ports over P&O Ferries' sacking of 800 workers in favour of lower-paid replacements.
In Hull, protestors from the RMT union at one stage attempted to block access to P&O ferry the Pride of Rotterdam at the city's King George Dock. They want customers to boycott the company.BBC correspondent Paul Murphy, at the scene, said picketers turned away cars and lorries attempting to board tonight's 20:30 GMT sailing.
Niek Stam, general secretary of the Docker Workers' Union in Rotterdam, told the BBC Radio 4's PM programme they hoped the protests would make "P&O come back to the table", adding "what they have done is outrageous". As the company's ships operate internationally and are registered overseas, the UK minimum hourly rate of £8.91 does not apply.
He said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency should detain every P&O Ferries vessel around the UK, on the basis they are not fit to sail.This was the scene in Dover, where protesters condemned the dismissal of P&O workers "I will not compromise the safety of these vessels, and P&O will not be able to rush inexperienced crew through training," he added.P&O Ferries said it would review the findings of the MCA's inspection, "make any changes required and continue to work closely with the MCA to return the ship to service".
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