The company said it has started consultations with French unions about plans to close the Le Havre-Portsmouth service at the end of the year.

A total of 185,000 passengers were carried in 2013, generating revenues of DKK 165m ($28.7m), a result described by DFDS as “unsatisfactory”.

The owner said the route does not have a viable future, taking into account a series of unsuccessful initiatives to improve its performance.

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