by business editor Trevor Sturgess

The future of troubled ferry operator SeaFrance looks in even more doubt after yesterday's deadline passed without any new offers.

A French court had set December 12 for the submission of bids that might have saved the company. Now it seems inevitable that it will be wound up by the end of January with the loss of 700 jobs in France and more than 100 in Dover. Its ships have not sailed for weeks.

French business consultant Thaddee Segard said last night: "The final liquidation of SeaFrance is no longer in doubt.

DFDS/LD Lines announced late yesterday that it would not be submitting a new bid after its earlier one was rejected by a French court as too low.

The consortium had hoped to file a revised offer and held extensive talks with the parties involved. But it ran up against union opposition to its plans to slash jobs.

"Unfortunately it has not been possible to establish a dialogue with the union representing the majority of SeaFrance's employees," it said.

It regretted the decision because there was "underlying industrial logic" to the proposal.

"Furthermore, we believe that the joint venture is in a unique position to create a sustainable, attractive and profitable workplace for a majority of the present employees, including the deployment of French flagged ships."

It is understood that a union plan fell well short of the 50 million euro target despite an offer of 10 million euro from Nord Pas de Calais regional council.