DFDS AND LOUIS DREYFUS PLANNING TO START NEW ROUTE ON DOVER - CALAIS
The commercial court of Paris decided to liquidate SeaFrance, which operated a route between Dover and Calais
Yesterday, the commercial court of Paris decided to liquidate SeaFrance, which operated a route between Dover and Calais, with immediate effect. DFDS and Louis Dreyfus Armateurs formed a joint venture in 2011 that bid to acquire certain assets of SeaFrance, but the bid was rejected by the commercial court of Paris in December 2011.
As previously stated, the underlying industrial logic of DFDS and Louis Dreyfus Armateurs joint venture has remained intact throughout the process. Furthermore, our joint venture is still in a unique position to create a number of sustainable French jobs, including the deployment of French flagged ships.
We can, therefore, confirm that we have continued to pursue opportunities to establish a new route between Dover and Calais. Our intention is to operate two ships under the French flag to be manned with French seafarers. To open a new route, and provide an attractive service for customers, we aim to hire about 300 staff and expect to be able to start the recruitment process soon.
The new route would be operated by vessels currently owned by the joint venture or vessels available on the market.
More detailed information will follow as soon as possible.
Contact Persons:
Niels Smedegaard, CEO +45 3342 3400
Torben Carlsen, CFO +45 3342 3201
Søren Brøndholdt Nielsen, IR +45 3342 3359