In a quote sure to alert French unions, the company said it wanted to lower labour costs.

Baja revealed in May it was in talks to buy a 66% stake from Transdev, owned by the state and Veolia, after Siem Offshore pulled out.

Oscar Ruano, director of Baja Ferries, told Reuters the company would concentrate on routes between Marseille, Corsica and north Africa, but could also expand to more ports in northern Africa, such as in Morocco.

Corsican