P&O Ferries have cancelled all services as scores of drivers were 'turned away' at its major Scottish port.
A number of motorists have allegedly been refused entry to Cairnryan, Dumfries and Galloway on Thursday morning.
It comes as the the firm announced on social media that services 'are unable to run for the next few hours' with passengers being passed onto other operators.
All ships were asked to "come alongside in preparation for a company announcement".
A statement was released on social media by P&O Ferries at 7.39am on Thursday.
It read: "Regretfully, P&O Ferries services are unable to run for the next few hours. Our Port Teams will guide you and travel will be arranged via an alternative operator.
"We apologise for the inconvenience this will have on your journey plans."
One witness saw 'a number of vehicles being turned away' from their port in Cairnryan, near Stranraer - where P&O run a service to Larne in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Sources at the ferry firm fear 'liquidation' or 'political issues' regarding the invasion of Ukraine are to blame.
The witness told the Daily Record: "There's a roundabout near the port, one woman in a yellow, hi-vis jacket is turning vehicles away so they can't get into the port.
"One friend, who is a lorry driver, was told he couldn't get in and had to go to the Stena Line port.
"Another friend, whose husband is lorry driver and was turned away, was told all sailings were cancelled today worldwide.
"They weren't exactly sure why."
Customers took to social media fearing the operator had 'gone into liquidation'.
The nearby Stena Line service runs between Cairnryan and Belfast.
A P&O spokesman refuted claims the firm is going into liquidation, and said travellers were being advised 'of alternative arrangements'.
He told the Daily Record: “P&O Ferries is not going into liquidation. We have asked all ships to come alongside, in preparation for a company announcement.
"Until then, services from P&O will not be running and we are advising travellers of alternative arrangements.”
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