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DFDS signs ferries deal in bid to end Calais chaos

[ September 1, 2015   //   ]

DFDS has signed an agreement with the SCOP-SeaFrance workers’ organisation and Eurotunnel to take over the Rodin and Berlioz that were at the centre of the recent strikes and disruption in Calais. Under the deal, reached with the assistance of the French transport minister on 31 August, DFDS is committing to employ 202 former SCOP-Seafrance employees in its French organisation.
The BBC reported that 200 further former MyFerryLink employees would be employed by Eurotunnel, a quarter of them as security staff and that 70 jobs would be lost at the former MyFerryLink operation in England.
Depending on when Eurotunnel is able to deliver the ships to DFDS Seaways, the Berlioz and Rodin are expected to be deployed during Q4 2015 on Dover-Calais together with Calais Seaways. DFDS Seaways will operate three ferries on the route instead of two currently; the Malo Seaways, which currently sails alongside Calais Seaways, will be deployed elsewhere in DFDS’ network.
DFDS will operate a total of six ferries out of Dover to Calais and Dunkirk respectively, with three ferries on each route.
DFDS Seaways senior vice president, Carsten Jensen, said: “This ends a long period of uncertainty for both our employees and our customers on the Channel as this agreement gives us the platform needed to create a sustainable ferry service on the Channel. It also means that we have an equal number of French and UK flagged ships on the Channel, making the service a truly Anglo-French partnership, which we believe is in everyone’s best interests.”
 

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