by Graham Tutthill
gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

Three bids are believed to have been submitted for the former SeaFrance ferries.

When the deadline passed on Friday, there were reports that Eurotunnel, DFDS Seaways/LD Lines and Stena had submitted applications to buy the three ships, Rodin, Berlioz and Nord Pas de Calais. They are said to be worth up to 150 million euros.

The French bankruptcy judge who has to decide on the issue is expected to announce his verdict by the middle of May.

The sale of the ships could be complete by the beginning of June. SeaFrance was officially declared bankrupt last year.

Meanwhile there are suggestions that if Eurotunnel is successful, the ships could be used for a summer service between Boulogne and Dover.

The Côte d’Opale Chamber of Commerce is bidding for a concession to run both Calais and Boulogne ports for the next 50 years, and Eurotunnel chief Jacques Gounon told a French newspaper his group could become a minority partner with the chamber.

M Gounon said: “It is my conviction that the three local structures – the ports of Boulogne and Calais and Eurotunnel, as a dry port – must have a coherent development policy.”

The new operator of Boulogne and Calais could be appointed by the end of this year.