All aspects of its UK business are under the microscope as P&O Ferries conduct a major review of operations. Chief executive Helen Deeble explained: ‘Trading conditions are extremely tough due to the state of the economy across Europe. There has also been major competitor activity in the Irish Sea which has hit results hard. So, as we start to plan our budgets for 2013, it is clear that we need to reassess our operations. We believe there is significant room for improvement in performance, both on revenue generation and costs.’

The eight-week review began in September, looking particularly at areas including revenue generation and costs, with P&O saying what are described as significant increases in pension contributions to a number of schemes have added to pressure on finances.

P&O’s last major review in 2004 resulted in route closures and the loss of almost 2,000 jobs. It sparked a complete withdrawal from the Western Channel, with routes from Portsmouth to Cherbourg closed at the end of 2004 and Portsmouth-Le Havre in 2005 before Portsmouth-Bilbao halted in 2010. Closures on the Irish Sea were the Dublin-Mostyn and Larne-Troon freight services, while the Fleetwood–Larne freight route was sold to Stena Line.

Captain Sverre Ryan, Master of Legend of the Seas, talks with Byron Clayton about his career, the ship he now commands and spending Christmas at sea.

When did you first go to sea?
I started in 1980 aboard a Norwegian bulk carrier from Denmark to Poland. I joined the ship in transit during a vicious storm and my position was as an oiler in the engine department. After working as an oiler, I became motorman, mechanic, and then transferred to the deck department before I went to the academy. After this, I worked on bulk carriers and tankers. I was on a tanker in the Persian Gulf delivering jet fuel during the Iran-Iraq war and after six months  decided that it was time to work in a safer industry, so I moved to cruise ships in 1986.

What was your first cruise ship?
I started with NCL in 1986 on Sunward II, moving to Norway and then finally onto Seaward. I stayed with NCL until 1990 and then worked for a gold mine in Alaska flying hovercraft in the middle of winter. As the hovercraft was registered as an aeroplane, 180 hours of flying lessons were required before I could get a hovercraft pilot licence.

Captain Fabio Tocco has recently taken command of the newly-delivered Dive Support Vessel Seven Havila. Gary Ritchie talks to him about his career and his new command.

What inspired you to undertake a career at sea?
I was brought up in the small coastal village of Porto Ercole in Tuscany, Italy, where my father owned a ship chandler. This mostly dealt with yachts in the marina and I worked there during my school years, gaining experience in air diving when repair work was needed on the yacht moorings. I also had a more direct connection with the sea as one of my uncles was a Deck Officer. My initial thoughts of going to sea were probably due to my uncle’s influence.

Where did you complete your nautical training?
I completed my initial training in a local nautical school from 1982 to 1989 and then served for a year as a Radar Operator in the Italian Navy (Marina Militare). I spent a further two years working on private yachts in the Mediterranean before I became a Deck Cadet in the Merchant Navy.

P&O Cruises’ Oceana was one of the vessels taking part in P&O’s 175th anniversary celebrations. Andrew Cooke talked to her master, Captain Angelo Vago, about his career and the ship.

When did your career at sea start?
I like the sea, and even if I was born far away from it, it always held an attraction for me. So one day I left my family behind to become ‘a sailor’. Although my father was not happy with me leaving home, he later became very proud of me and my job.

When did you first go to sea and on which ship?
I started in 1976 as a deck boy on board a tanker carrying wine. Later on I attended a Nautical College in Savona, Italy.

Captain Colin Bain, master of Caledonian Isles on the busy Ardrossan-Brodick route, talked to Nicholas Leach about his career and working for Cal Mac.

When did you start your career at sea? 
Just after my 17th birthday I went to sea. When I was 16 and still at school, I went to the careers evening, and saw the British Council of British Shipping, and before I knew it I was at their office at Broomielaw in Glasgow being interviewed for a position with Shell tankers. I was accepted by Shell and did my induction with them in July 1981. I was a cadet with Shell for four years, during which time I passed my tickets and became third mate on product tankers, VLCCs, ULCCs and large 318,000-ton crude oil tankers, travelling round the world. We loaded in the Gulf, then went to northern Europe ports such as Rotterdam. The Shell tankers included Litiopia, which was of 314,000 tons and carried crude oil, and Entalina a 30,000-ton product carrier. I also had a spell working on LNG carriers.