Brittany Ferries is planning to make a bid for ailing rival SeaFrance.
The announcement came after LD Lines withdrew its offer for SeaFrance, which is owned by French railway SNCF.
Brittany Ferries said it plans to place SeaFrance in a joint holding in which it would take a 75% stake, with SNCF retaining the remaining 25%.
If successful, it would buy four or five of SeaFrance’s vessels, which would continue sailing on the Dover-Calais route.
Brittany Ferries already operates five routes to France from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth, plus two routes to Spain.
President Jean-Marc Roué said: “We think Brittany Ferries has a real legitimacy to put in an offer to relaunch SeaFrance.”
Managing director David Longden added: “After 37 years of experience on the longer routes to France and Spain, this is an exciting opportunity to introduce Brittany Ferries’ award-winning standards on Dover-Calais crossings, and to provide an even greater choice for our passengers and freight customers.”
By Bev Fearis
