Crew members on board the Irish Ferries ship the Isle of Inishmore have barricaded themselves into the ship's engine control room. The ship remains docked in Pembroke in Wales.
It is believed a confrontation has developed after Irish Ferries tried to bring some Eastern European workers onto the ship.
Irish Ferries has issued a statement saying it confirms that the process which will lead to the implementation of its planned voluntary redundancy programme is now underway.
'Under the terms of its voluntary redundancy programme, which was announced on 16th September 2005 and for which 90% of seagoing staff have applied, the company will be changing its crew structures to international norms which will bring it into line with its competitors,' the statement from the company reads.
The statement added that from today, Irish Ferries will take on board the personnel who will eventually replace the current staff who wish to avail of the voluntary redundancy offer.
The company said it anticipates that the transition will take some weeks to complete and will be achieved in co-operation with Irish Ferries staff.
It added that it is committed to maintaining full schedules whilst the change programme is being implemented.
* ICG shares closed eight cent higher at €9.90 in Dublin this evening.
