JOBS could go at cross-Channel ferry operator P&O’s Dover offices under a rationalisation of the group’s shore-based services.

Discussions started today with representatives of unions and other employee organisations in the UK, Belgium, Netherlands and France.

A formal meeting was held of the P&O European Forum over the proposals which result from P&O’s objective to focus its Anglo-Continental ferry operations under the single brand of P&O Ferries.

The company said an analysis of the financial results of P&O Stena Line, P&O European Ferries Portsmouth and P&O North Sea Ferries showed that returns over the last three years had been “inadequate”.

“Consideration has therefore been given to ways in which the returns could be improved, building on the opportunity afforded by the P&O Stena Line business becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary and by the synergies from running the three businesses under a single brand,” said the company’s statement.

In the past few months, P&O had bought out Stena’s share of the business, to become P&O Ferries.

The statement added: “In summary, the proposals put to employee representatives at the meetings address duplication in various shore departments in the three companies.

“No decision has yet been made on the number of job losses. It is expected that any job losses would be partly offset by the creation of new jobs elsewhere.

“The full proposals will now be subject of detailed consultations with employee representatives. P&O will not comment further in the meantime.”

The three companies have faced increasingly difficult trading conditions in recent years, and since the opening of the Channel Tunnel.

But P&O Stena Line has also been affected by the introduction of the Norfolkline services between Dover and Dunkerque, and SeaFrance’s increased services.