Surprise bid by LD Lines for Channel ferry operator SeaFrance

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Following the announcement this week of job losses at Channel ferry operator SeaFrance, LD Lines have made a surprise bid to take over the company, just a week after launching two of their own services from the Port of Dover.

SeaFrance, which is a company owned by the French rail company SNCF, announced just this week that it was to cut around 650 jobs, and trim the fleet of ferries in order to safeguard the future of the company.

The BBC reports today that although a formal bid has not yet been made, Christophe Santini of LD Lines said that the company was expanding, and could save up to 350 jobs if the takeover materialised.  Mr Santini also pointed out that LD Lines would become a European leader on the ferry scene, and that its size would make it possible for the company to survive the recession.

"I cannot divulge any information on the transaction itself, but we are talking about LD Lines taking over SeaFrance," he said.  "The global group would keep the name of SeaFrance and we would be committed to preserve the vessels of SeaFrance under the French flag."

SNCF has already rubber-stamped the rescue plan announced this week, saying in a statement "Given the serious current structural imbalance SeaFrance has to face, SNCF supports the recovery plan presented to staff on 17 February."