Ferry merger stalled
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• Haulier's fears over the proposed merger between ferry companies P&O and Stena will be fully explored, following The Government's decision to refer the deal to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC), The MMC will report by early March on whether the proposed joint venture on the short sea Channel routes would be against the public interest. International operators have voiced fears over higher freight rates and fewer routes if the two companies are allowed to join up on their Dover-Calais, Dover-Zeebrugge and Newhaven-Dieppe routes.
While the ferries have played down the fears, they have said the deal would result in a reduction in the number of sailing& P&O has criticised the referral to the MMC as "totally unnecessary", saying that apart from its short-term problems the Channel tunnel already takes nearly half of all passenger and freight traffic.