Considering the 600 staff at MyFerryLink could be out of a job in six months, the atmosphere is anything but sombre.

“Generally speaking the staff are philosophical,” said MyFerryLink managing director Robin Wilkins, whose employer, the SCOP, will soon reveal whether it is launching an appeal against the Dover to Calais operator’s closure or enforced sale.

“They enjoy working at MyFerryLink and want to carry on working there.

“People share a sense of disappointment and amazement at the decision, considering the freight market is booming and has gone up by a significant amount.

“We don’t believe this is the end of the road. We believe we will either win an appeal or there will be an alternative financing solution which will ensure the long term of the company.”

The bizarre thing for workers at MyFerryLink is they do not feel any connection with Eurotunnel, which owns the three ferries they operate.

It leases them back to the SCOP – the workers’ co-operative that employs the staff – but has no other involvement.

The Competition and Markets Authority, however, believes the connection could be a problem in the future.

It anticipates that current high levels of competition will force one of MyFerryLink’s competitors, P&O Ferries or DFDS, to exit the market, which it believes will then allow Eurotunnel to increase prices as it takes a dominant share of the cross-Channel market.

“If more realistic fares applied on the Channel, there is enough business there for everyone to make a sufficient margin for long-term success,” said Mr Wilkins.

“Until now, freight prices have been depressed because there has been a chasing of market share. I don’t think MyFerryLink has been the leader in that, despite what our competitors would say.

“Niels Smedegaard [the chief executive of DFDS] said he wants us off the route so prices can go up.

“Yet the Competition and Markets Authority says if Eurotunnel is one of only two operators on Dover to Calais they might be able to manipulate fares upwards.

“It is a very confusing argument. One says having a dominant market share might lead to an increase in prices and then you have people complaining about it because they want to put the prices up.”

With a cross-Channel market share of 9.9%, MyFerryLink argues it does not threaten its competitors. Eurotunnel estimates itself to have 37% of the market, with P&O on 29% and DFDS on 24%.

MyFerryLink also argues that the freight market is expanding enough to accommodate three operators.

In the first quarter of 2014, MyFerryLink’s traffic for trucks grew 61% year on year to 91,450, while cars were up 17% to 35,474.

“I do not accept that argument,” said Carsten Jensen, senior vice president and head of DFDS Seaways in the UK.

“This argument has been centred on the over-capacity and unsustainability that has been created.

“SeaFrance went into liquidation because of over-capacity, and then MyFerryLink was established creating exactly the same situation.

“We have seen a growth of 6 to 7% on the freight market on the Channel but flat-lining on passenger rates. We are just recovering from the downfall we have seen in recent years.

“We are getting back to where we were in 2009. We are not seeing a booming market. It is just recovering in that sense.

“It has become clear there is not room for three operators on the Channel.”

Regardless of whether a buyer for MyFerryLink can be found, Mr Wilkins and his staff remain resolute.

“It is a nervous time but there is a certain motivation and togetherness you feel when you are under siege. That is the way we feel.

“We are a very established operator now and it would be a tragedy for the market place if we didn’t exist.

“If we end up with new ownership that will be an exciting new phase for the company, and I hope for staff and customers that we can find a positive solution.

“We march forward in hope.”