Accessibility.SkipToMainContent

Face covering will be made mandatory on UK ferries in England from 15 June, Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps said.

The new ruling will apply to all front-line ferry workers and those that come into contact with passengers. It covers all public transport networks including ferries, busses, rail and underground transport.

The condition will be monitored by transport police and individuals found to be flouting the rules could be fined.

'It is a condition of travel. You cannot travel unless you are wearing a face covering,' Mr Shapps said in the government's daily coronavirus briefing on Thursday 4 June.

Welcoming this new rule Nautilus head of Industrial Micky Smyth said: 'Ferry operators must provide front line seagoing employees with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment to enable them to comply with this new rule.'

There will be some exceptions to the rule for very young children, for people with disabilities and for people with breathing difficulties.

The new rule currently applies to England only. The devolved governments in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are expected to provide their own guidance. Mr. Smyth added that he hoped that the devolved administrations follow suit as soon as possible to ensure consistency across the sector.


Tags

More articles

Health and safety

Nautilus FAQs on Covid-19 Coronavirus

  • Telegraph
  • 09 June 2020
Health and safety

Seafarers' denied access to medical care a global health emergency

Seafarers denied access to medical care at ports due to pandemic restrictions is putting lives at risk and has become a global health emergency, Nautilus International general secretary general Mark Dickinson told a webinar organised by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

  • News
  • 03 June 2020
International

Union members urged to take the ITF crew change survey

Nautilus members are urged to continue to support the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) crew change survey being used to build a case for crew relief for thousands of seafarers.

  • News
  • 02 June 2020
Podcasts

International union pressure is getting results in crew change crisis, says Nautilus general secretary

Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson renewed the Union's commitment to international cooperation in an online industry event today – stressing that joint working between unions, employers and governments is key to achieving crew relief and repatriation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

  • News
  • 02 June 2020
Industrial

Nautilus strongly resists redundancies in intensive negotiations with P&O Ferries

Nautilus will go into the next round of talks with P&O Ferries on 2 June with renewed determination to resist redundancies for members employed by P&O Crewing Services (Jersey).

  • News
  • 01 June 2020
Industrial

CLdN challenges £35m ferry bailout

Freight ferry operator CLdN is seeking a judicial review over the government's £35m handout to ferry operators, according to The Daily Telegraph.

  • News
  • 27 May 2020

Become a Nautilus member today