P&O Ferries eyes competition

P&O FERRIES invited competitiveness minister Alan Johnson to tour three of its ships during a trip to the ferry operator's facilities in Hull. Johnson discussed the competitiveness of the British shipping industry with P&O executives. He was also told about P&O's plans to spend £180m on two new cruise ferries for North Seas routes by 2001. At the facilities in Hull, are from left, Graeme Dunlop, chairman, P&O Ferries; Philip Pannett, the captain of P&O North Sea Ferries' ship Norland; Alan Johnson, competitiveness minister; and Bob Lough, UK director, P&ONSF.