Ships bought up by Eurotunnel

Eurotunnel will take over three ships formerly owned by bust Channel ferry company SeaFrance after its €65m (£52m) offer was accepted by the Paris Commercial Court yesterday. The acquisition will be made through Eurotunnel-owned Eurotransmanche, which will lease the ferries to an operating company.

Eurotransmanche, independent of Eurotunnel, will be able to create 500 jobs in the Calais region and about a hundred in the UK. SeaFrance was unable to complete necessary maintenance work on the ferries before being placed into administration in January which means they will need a technical overhaul before being brought back into service.