P&O Stena Line is to withdraw its cross-Channel ferry service between Dover and Zeebrugge at the end of the year. The company says it will not result in any redundacies.

The decision, announced today, followed a statement in April that talks were taking place over the future of the route.

P&O Stena Line says it plans to convert the two youngest freight ships, the European Pathway and European Highway, to multi-purpise ferries carrying up to 2,000 passengers each.

These will then be used to replace two of its oldest ferries on the Dover-Calais route, P&OSL Kent and P&OSL Canterbury. The remaining Dover-Zeebrugge freight ship, European Seaway, will be transferred to operate a freight service on the Dover-Calais route.