SeaFrance

SeaFrance was a French shipping company, which had a ferry Calais - Dover operated from 1996 to 2011 to crossing the Channel.

The shipping company was a 100 % subsidiary of the French railway company SNCF. With 1700 employees, it was the largest employer in the city of Calais. According to the company they led with six vessels up to 46 crossings each day through.

On 9 January 2012, the Commercial Court of Paris has liquidate the company and the termination of its business features.

  • 2.1 Passenger and freight ferries
  • 2.2 Freight Ferry

History

SeaFrance began operations between Dover and Calais in 1996 after the completion of a pooling agreement with Stena Sealink in 1995. The service began with two former Sealink ships fully renovated SeaFrance. The former Sealink train ferry continued to operate as a freight ferry. Later, another ship Stena came to the fleet.

SeaFrance was quick to P & O Ferries and Stena front of their former partner 's second largest operator on the Dover - Calais. SeaFrance took over 2001 the first new ship and the fastest ferry Dover - Calais. This ferry was 2005, a sister ship is beige.

Restructuring

A strike against the staff shortage has blocked at Easter 2010, three ships in Calais. For society in tough competition with P & O and Euro tunnel standing, financially troubled a heavy blow. In 2009 a merger was bursting with Brittany Ferries. In September 2010, the unions rejected a restructuring because it 400 jobs would be lost. In October 2010, a reorganization proceedings to avoid bankruptcy was initiated, dismissed 700 employees. Two ferries from SeaFrance were launched some time in Dunkerque ( Dunkirk ), sold to Stena a third in summer 2010. On 4 October 2010 SNCF SeaFrance offered in an advertisement in the newspaper L'Echo for sale.

On 16 November 2011, SeaFrance ceased its activities in order to ensure the safety of passengers and crew can (some staff were so exasperated that they threatened with sinking of a ferry). The Paris Commercial Court had previously declared bankrupt. The court considered that two bids, one of the employees, a second involving the Danish shipping company DFDS, not enough. SeaFrance should be dissolved until 28 January 2012.

At the beginning of 2012, the French government had its opposition to the proposal from the unions given that the workforce is taking over the company through a cooperative, which is to be financed with their severance pay. The company was liquidated yet.

In the summer of 2012 the ships Rodin, Berlioz and Nord pas de Calais were auctioned along with some assets and infrastructure. The contract was awarded Euro tunnel. Euro Tunnel chartered the ships to a cooperative of former SeaFrance staff operating under the name MyFerryLink a new ferry service between Dover and Calais. The traffic was opened first with Rodin and Berlioz on August 20, 2012, the North pas de Calais was to come in the winter after a refit for freight traffic.

Fleet

Passenger and cargo ferries

  • SeaFrance Renoir, built in 1981 ( in Dunkirk since 2009 launched )
  • SeaFrance Cézanne, built in 1980, reconstruction 1990 ( in Dunkirk since 2009 launched )
  • SeaFrance Rodin, model 2001
  • SeaFrance Molière, built 2002
  • SeaFrance Berlioz, built in 2005

Freight Ferries

  • SeaFrance Nord Pas -de -Calais, year 1987

Was after bankruptcy to December 11, 2011 in Dover

Stena Line Eurotunnel MS Dieppe Seaways Le Monde
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