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
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt