The video features Hebblethwaite telling MPs the company had broken the law by failing to consult unions, followed by his statement “I would make this decision again”.

The project was the result of contributions by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), European Transport Worker’s Federarion (ETF), Nautilus International, and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Worker (RMT). 

In a joint statement the unions said P&O Ferries had “set a dangerous precedent” and warned: “The government needs to act, and if the laws don’t protect us, the laws must change.”

ITF general secretary Stephen Cotton added: “My message to all transport workers, and all workers in the UK, is that unless we act this could happen to you. We must make the UK government fix these broken laws so this never happens again.”

Nautilus International general secretary Mark Dickinson, who featured in the video, said: “Some of our members have given their lives to this company, 40 years, they don’t want to lose their jobs.

“Government must now deliver on the fair ferries framework agreement developed with unions and industry as this would ensure such actions by rogue ferry operators can never happen again.”