Last month, the line sacked nearly 800 UK seafarers on the spot and replaced them with lower-paid agency workers.

The move has been roundly condemned, with the government threatening to pass new legislation to guarantee seafarers working on UK ferry routes minimum wage.

There have been widespread calls too for P&O Ferries chief Peter Hebblethwaite to resign or be struck off as a director of the company.

It comes after Hebblethwaite admitted to a government select committee P&O Ferries knowingly broke the law by failing to consult on the proposed sackings.

"From this weekend, P&O Ferries are getting ready to resume services across a number of vital routes," said the line in a statement issued on Wednesday (6 April).

"P&O has been working closely with regulators to ensure our ships are safe to sail. P&O is looking forward to welcoming back vital services and we expect to have two of our vessels ready to sail on the Dover-Calais route by next week, subject to regulatory sign-off."

P&O Ferries plans to deploy Pride of Kent and Spirit of Britain on the Dover-Calais route. It also expects to bring European Causeway and Pride of Hull back into service to sail other routes.

Passengers whose travel plans have been disrupted by the firm’s actions over the past three weeks will be given a free trip, redeemable this year.

The restart plans were revealed shortly after rival DFDS said it could no longer continue accommodating P&O Ferries passengers seeking alternative carriage.

"P&O Ferries info – DFDS has no availability for P&O customers between 8 April 0001 and 10 April 2359," tweeted DFDS. "Please do not proceed to port without a confirmed reservation [and] contact P&O Ferries for alternative travel arrangements."