P&O Ferries is resuming passenger crossings between Dover and Calais for the first time since hundreds of staff were controversially sacked without notice.
The ferry operator says it will operate a reduced schedule on Tuesday, with the normal schedule resuming on Wednesday.
The Spirit of Britain is the only ferry operating on the route, so tickets are limited.
It comes after P&O laid off nearly 800 seafarers in March to replace them with cheaper contract workers.
Tuesday marks the first time passengers and tourists have been able to use the service in almost six weeks. The Spirit of Britain leaves Dover at 16:05 bound for Calais.
For almost a week she has been crossing the English Channel in pure freight traffic.
It is the only ship the company can currently use for its crossing of the English Channel and was cleared to sea on April 22 after being arrested 11 days earlier when inspectors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) found 23 errors had.
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The MCA has confirmed that it is conducting a re-inspection of the Pride of Kent at the request of P&O Ferries, which also operates the Dover-Calais route.
The company used to operate four ferries on this route, so it is still below its normal operating capacity. The other two ferries, the Pride of Canterbury and the Spirit of France, are still out of service.
P&O Ferries was widely condemned by politicians, unions and the public after nearly 800 crew members were replaced with cheaper temporary staff on March 17.
It suspended most of its operations following the decision, causing delays and increased traffic around the Port of Dover, which was seen around the Easter holidays.
When P&O Ferries laid off its employees, the company said it was to secure the company’s future.
Passenger services have already resumed on the three other UK routes between Liverpool and Dublin, Ireland. between Cairnryan, Scotland and Larne, Northern Ireland; and between Hull and Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Last week, another P&O Ferries ship was stranded in the Irish Sea for hours without power.
P&O said the incident was caused by a “temporary mechanical problem” which has been resolved.
The European Causeway ferry has been ordered to remain in Larne harbor pending another inspection.
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