Red duster flies for Britain

It is an enormous boost for the Daily Echo's "Keep the Flag Flying" campaign aimed at bolstering Britain's shipping industry, so vital to Southampton's success as an international port.

"Aurora, like her sister ships, will fly the Red Ensign and sail out of P&O's home port, Southampton," said a spokesman for the company in London today.

Foreign flags of convenience allow shipping lines to steer round British tax and employment laws, enabling cheaper crew to be hired.

The ever-rising number of cruise ships based in Southampton provide thousands of jobs in the region, with vessels demanding more services and supplies from Hampshire companies.

One of the country's main seafaring unions, NUMAST, gave a warm welcome to the news as the shipping giant confirmed the Red Ensign - known affectionately by sailors as the Red Duster - is to be hoisted over Aurora's luxurious decks when it enters service in the city next year.

The news, scuppering suggestions earlier this year that a so-called overseas flag of convenience could be flying from the 76,000-ton Aurora as it leaves on its maiden voyage next May, was given by P&O Cruises at a special launch where details of the vessel and its first season in Southampton were unveiled.

P&O said the liner, now under construction in Germany, where its Southampton-based sister-ship Oriana was built, would be registered in the UK, with its official port of registry in London.

A NUMAST spokesman said: "This is a crucial time for the future of the British merchant fleet so this is really good news for our members and the industry as a whole. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come."

But the RMT seamen's union was more cautious, saying it was a step in the right direction but wanting to know how many jobs it would mean.

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