Irish Ferries vessels tied up as stand-off continues

Two Irish Ferries ships remained tied up in Wales this morning due to a stand-off between workers and management over the company's controversial "outsourcing" plan.

Ships' officers attached to SIPTU have taken over the Isle of Inishmore in Pembroke and remain barricaded in the vessel's control room this morning.

They seized control of the ferry when management brought in security staff in an attempt to remove the existing crew and replace them with cheaper Latvian workers.

They also attempted to replace the ships' officers with new British staff.

The move is part of Irish Ferries' plan to reduce costs by laying off all staff on its Irish Sea routes and replacing them with workers on lower pay and weaker terms of employment.

Another stand-off is also taking place on the Ulysses ferry in Holyhead, but the officers are not believed to have taken over that vessel.

The International Transport Workers Federation has slammed the situation, saying workers were "absolutely seething with anger" as a result of the company's actions yesterday.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, meanwhile, has condemned Irish Ferries for ignoring a Labour Court recommendation not to implement its lay-off plan without further discussions.