SNCF-owned Channel ferry operator SeaFrance is scaling back restructuring measures announced in February, and last week proposed to axe 543 jobs, instead of the 650 initially planned. It also plans to retain the Nord Pas de Calais freight-only vessel that had been earmarked for withdrawal, following an independent audit into SeaFrance’s books requested by the company’s works council to qualify the financial situation.
SeaFrance claimed that keeping the Nord Pas de Calais in service would safeguard around 100 jobs. The operator re-iterated there would be no compulsory redundancies among staff whose jobs are set to be axed.