SeaFrance hopes to resume services today
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.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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