A total of 550 jobs could still be lost at SeaFrance in the latest plan announced this week.
Originally 650 jobs and at least one ship were expected to go as the company tried to make savings to combat the economic downturn.
Talks have been going on since February to try and find ways around the cut-backs and at least one management plan was thrown out by the board of the parent company SNCF.
A statement issued by SeaFrance on Monday read: The company has revised its recovery plan to include the operation of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais on a limited basis until the end of the year, based on the business forecast.
"The extent of the downsizing has been reduced from 650 positions to 550 positions. Negotiations are now moving forward with trade union partners."
It is understood that the company lost 14 million Euro (£12.1 million) in the first four months of 2009, more than 100,000 Euro (£86,501) per day, due to competition from the Channel Tunnel and the economic crisis.