Around 500 jobs will be revived in Calais as part of a workers’ co-operative, following Groupe Eurotunnel’s takeover of the ferry operator SeaFrance, which went into administration in January of this year.

SeaFrance stopped operating last October and went into administration on 9 January, a spokesperson for Eurotunnel tells Recruiter.

Yesterday, the Paris Commercial Court allowed Eurotunnel to acquire three SeaFrance ships for a new company named Eurotransmanche, which will be independent of Eurotunnel.

The ships will be leased to a workers’ co-operative, which will operate the vessels. The company spokesperson explains to Recruiter that there will initially be emphasis put on ensuring that former SeaFrance workers are given access to the 500 jobs due to be created in Calais.

Up to another 100 jobs should be created in the UK at Dover. SeaFrance had more than 1,000 employees when it ceased operations.

Jobs will also be created in ship maintenance, to return them to a seaworthy condition.