Ferry operator DFDS has announced there will be 79 redundancies at its Dover operation.

Of that number 69 will be sea going staff while ten jobs will go from shore side departments including its Whitfield office and at the terminal control building, a port based support team for dockside operations.

Port operations jobs are safe.

Kasper Moos, VP and Head of DFDS’ routes on the English Channel said: "On 29 June, DFDS announced several cost reductions measures to adapt to the new market conditions brought about by the Covid-9 Pandemic.

"DFDS anticipated that this would potentially impact about 650 colleagues across the DFDS organisation.

"Following this, we are today announcing the start of a consultation process in Dover and France that will unfortunately lead to a number of employees leaving the business.

"The company outlined proposals for a reduction in staffing levels onboard its vessels operating between Dover to France and within its Dover; Calais and Dieppe sites.

"A total of 79 roles on the company’s UK ships and in its offices are affected. There is no impact on roles located within the port.

"During this process we will work closely with staff representatives to find measures to mitigate the impact of this situation for our affected colleagues.

“We very much regret that it has come to this.

"Many colleagues have worked hard under difficult conditions to keep business running and help our customers.

"But the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting drop in passenger demand across all routes have made changes to the company’s structure necessary to reduce costs and protect jobs in the future.”

Bosses had meetings with works councils and unions this afternoon before they told staff.

DFDS has been asked when the consultation period will end.

This will look at all options and assess whether which of the redundancies will be voluntary and which will be compulsory.

The apprenticeship programme is not at risk.

The Danish international shipping and logistics company has a fleet of six ships sailing from Dover to Calais and Dunkirk.

News of the redundancies comes in the same month that 614 staff at P&O Ferries were made redundant.

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