Ferrymen talk merger
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III International hauliers should be able to benefit from a further few weeks of competition between ferry operators P&O and Stena. They will operate independently while negotiations with Europe's competition authorities continue.
The European Commission, which will decide if the joint ferry venture on the short sea Channel routes will go ahead, will voice its doubts on the deal in a letter to both companies before 11 June. P&O and Stena will then try to negotiate over the conditions the EC is likely to require in order to protect the smaller operators, such as Seafrance and Sally.
Many international operators fear the two companies will combine and push up freight rates on the affected routes: Dover-Calais, Dover-Zebrugge and Newhaven-Dieppe,