Unions may block ports as ferry row drags on

THE tense stand-off at Irish Ferries showed no sign of abating last night despite widespread condemnation of the company’s heavy handed tactics.

With officers barricaded inside the Isle of Inishmore at Pembroke dock and refusing to sail the Ulysses from Holyhead, SIPTU refused to rule out the possibility of port blockades in the coming days.

Both vessels are expected to remain immobile in Wales over the weekend as Irish crew members demand the removal of security personnel who boarded as normal passengers before changing into uniforms in the toilets.