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Anyone hear if this is correct or a wind-up?
they've stopped sailing. All traffic currently being transferred to other carriers (DFDS to dunkirk I think).
not in administration yet but looks like it's going to happen fairly soon.
Another victory for the French Unions.
does that make them submarine france
this is the info I have (as of yesterday);
SeaFrance suspends all cross-Channel services
French ferry operator SeaFrance has suspended all services between Dover and Calais ahead of a court hearing tomorrow that will decide the fate of the ailing company.
Passengers with tickets are being transferred to DFDS sailings from Dover to Dunkirk and are being advised to turn up at Dover as normal. SeaFrance passengers turning up at Calais today were being advised to make their own way to Dunkirk.
"We have tried to get space on other ferries from Calais but we haven't managed it so far," said a SeaFrance operator. P&O Ferries offers 23 sailings a day between Dover and Calais, but the company has complained to the European Commission that SeaFrance, currently owned by French rail operator SNCF, may be sold for less than its market value.
Rivals DFDS and LD Lines are believed to have made a joint offer of €5m for the business while an employees co-operative has offered €1 to buy SeaFrance. While such a sale remains a possiblity, P&O is evidentally refusing to help out its striken competitor.
"Fortunately there is space on DFDS ferries though as this is a particularly quiet time of year," added the SeaFrance operator. DFDS has 12 crossings a day.
Passengers with tickets who no longer wish to travel should call 0845 458 0666 for a refund.
SeaFrance has been in administration since June last year and the Court of Administration will decide tomorrow whether the operator will be sold or shut down.
A statement on www.seafrance.com said the Board and the receivers had decided, in liaison with the French authorities, to suspend operations from 4am today.
"We have taken this decision, with full knowledge of the consequences, to safeguard the security of the passengers, crews, vehicles and ships," it said. "We are conscious of the inconvenience this situation is causing and we apologise for this. We will keep you informed of any changes in the present situation."
SeaFrance passengers turning up at Calais today were being advised to make their own way to Dunkirk
It's like 1940 all over again!
According to Anglo/info Normandy the website says thy have gone into liquidation with 1 of the 4 vessels stuck in Dover.
That explains why I had so many emails recently offering silly cheap deals for 2012!
I like the idea of buying the company for a Euro. Anyone got some spare change? 🙂
Bit worried it means that prices will go up though. [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-15738181 ]BBC News[/url] has got the Dover MP calling for a 'competitive environment', but let's be real, that's not really going to change anything, is it?
Update;
Cross-Channel ferry company SeaFrance is hoping to resume services today after being placed under the control of the administrators.
The Dover-Calais operator has been given until January 28 to attract buyers, or its services will stop altogether.
In the meantime, it said all commercial activities of the company will resume "as soon as all the issues concerning safety and security are resolved".
On its website, a statement says: "We are conscious of the inconvenience this situation is causing and we apologise for this. We will keep you informed of any changes in the present situation."
Rival DFDS and LD Lines have jointly offered to buy the business for €5m while an employee co-operative has offered €1 for the ferry operator but a French court ruled today that both offers were too low.
The Tribunal de Commerce in Paris said SeaFrance, which was placed in administration after losing €240m last year, was worth more.
The company is owned by French rail operator SNCF and SeaFrance rival P&O Ferries had argued that if the business were to be sold to DFDS or the employees for less than its market value it would amount to illegal state aid.
Passengers with tickets to travel on SeaFrance Dover to Calais sailings can get information from a helpline on 0044 (0) 845 458 0666.