Brittany Ferries turns down Portsmouth-Le Havre route

Brittany Ferries will not proceed with a plan to charter two P&O ferries to sail the Portsmouth-Le Havre route.

P&O announced the decision tonight. P&O said it believed the main reason for this is Brittany’s view as to future commercial prospects for the route.

Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Brittany Ferries would have sub-chartered two

P&O Ferries ships and taken on approximately 350 P&O Ferries employees.

The plan has been under consideration by the UK competition authorities since last October.

P&O intends to continue to operate the route until the end of September 2005 when, subject

to employee consultation, it will close as previously announced.