Officials at the Department for Transport knew about the plans to sack around 800 staff at P&O a day before workers were told, it has emerged.
The ferry firm announced, via video link, on Thursday that workers on ships across the UK, including at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway, would be replaced by cheaper agency staff.
News of the sackings came as a complete surprise to workers, however officials in the UK Government were told of the plans the night before.
Earlier today Boris Johnson 's spokesperson confirmed that some members of the transport department were informed, however the Prime Minister had no knowledge.
Asked if officials told ministers on Wednesday night, the spokesperson told the Herald : "I don't believe so.
"But that's really a question for DfT as the standard practice for these sorts of things, it's very tight commercial sensitivity as to who is aware of this, but I'd have to refer to DfT for confirmation."
Downing Street also has warned P&O Ferries that there could be "ramifications" over its decision.
The PM's spokesman said the Government was looking to see if the company's actions broke the relevant rules.
"We are looking very closely at the actions that this company has taken to see whether they acted within the rules," the spokesman said.
"Once we have concluded that, we will decide what the ramifications are. Obviously there are a lot of valid questions in relation to existing contracts, etc.
"We are working through exactly the detail of what action the company took. Once we have have come to that conclusion, we will set out any further steps."
It came as Dean Lockhart, the convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee at Holyrood, wrote to P&O chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite to call for an "urgent update".
The decision was announced on Thursday, with the seafarers to be replaced by cheaper agency staff.
Unions and politicians have condemned the move, with Nicola Sturgeon saying on Thursday she made clear her "utter disgust" at the sackings when speaking to P&O chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite.
In a letter to Hebblethwaite on Friday, Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee convener Dean Lockhart called for more information to be provided before its next meeting on Tuesday.
"The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee is extremely concerned about yesterday's news that around 800 of P&O's staff have been sacked, reportedly with immediate effect, and that services, including the Cairnryan-Larne line, have been suspended, ruining passengers' travel plans," he wrote.
"I am writing to request an urgent update so that the committee may reflect on its immediate scrutiny in relation to this matter."
The letter asked for clarification of the "full impact" of the decision, as well as its impacts on Scotland and communications with the Scottish Government before or after the announcement.
A similar letter was also sent to Transport Secretary Michael Matheson, asking for his reaction to the news and if the Scottish Government had any "prior intimation".
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