Hauliers bypass Irish Ferries row on chartered ship

THE standoff at Irish Ferries intensified further yesterday as hauliers began to bypass the dispute, finding other ways to shift crucial Christmas cargoes.

With some crew members still barricaded inside the Isle of Inishmore in Pembroke, SIPTU port workers in Dublin voted yesterday in favour of strike action should Irish Ferries attempt to sail any of its ships, including the MV Normandy, into the harbour.

The move rules out a repeat of this week’s Normandy sailing which SIPTU allowed dock in Dublin after turning it away from Cork.