Report by Kirsten Bowling
SEA Containers, the operators of SuprerSeaCat, SeaCat and
Hoverspeed has axed its Folkstone to Boulogne ferry service after doubling
capacity on its Dover to Calais route this summer.
The company has also withdrawn its two hovercraft operating
between Dover and Calais and will replace them in 2001 with two SuperSeaCats,
with twice the capacity of the hovercraft.
Sea Containers president James Sherwood said: “Basically, we
have shed the unprofitable fast ferry services and redeployed our fleet to
achieve the most favourable revenue verses cost combination.”
Sherwood added that fuel surcharges will be applied on all
routes where they can be collected.
Sea Containers third quarter results until September 30 has
revealed the revenue for the quarter was £300 million, up £21 million from the
same period last year.