MyFerryLink put up for sale

CALAIS-Dover ferry service MyFerryLink has been put up for sale after operator Eurotunnel lost its appeal against a UK monopoly watchdog ban.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal upheld the ruling from the Competition and Market Authority that the cross-Channel service gave Eurotunnel a monopoly on the route. The CMA said Eurotunnel and MyFerryLink must halt operations.

MyFerryLink has been running since 2012 after Channel Tunnel operator Eurotunnel bought three ferries from collapsed ferry company SeaFrance.

Eurotunnel has attacked the decision as “illogical” as it reduces competition but said it would now look for a buyer for the service which it has said is “an operating and commercial success”.

It now has a six-month period in which to find a buyer before ferry sailings must halt.

The CMA’s Alasdair Smith said in a statement: “Our first priority remains to protect the interests of passengers and freight customers. With two of the operators on the Dover–Calais route making substantial losses, it remains our view that the current level of competition on the route is unsustainable and likely to lead to the exit of a competitor.

“Having one of only two ferry operators owned by the competing rail link would be bad for customers.

“It would be much better for passengers and freight customers to have three competing cross-Channel operators – with Eurotunnel running the rail link and two independent operators on the ferry route.”

He added: “We are conscious of the potential effect of our decision on the jobs of the MyFerryLink workers. However, there will also be job losses if MyFerryLink remains on the route and another operator leaves.”

Previous articles:
MyFerryLink vows to fight UK ban
MyFerryLink ban upheld by UK
MyFerryLink faces new legal threat
MyFerryLink wins Channel court case
MyFerryLink faces Dover ban