One of TransEuropa Ferries' fleet, the Orleander

by Kat Tye

TransEuropa Ferries has gone into administration, it has been confirmed.

The company, established in 1998, offers passenger and freight ferry services between Ramsgate and Ostend in Belgium.

Around 25 staff work at the firm's Ramsgate office and they were told yesterday to go home as administrators had been called into TransEuropa's Ostend headquarters.

A long-serving company employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Many of us have been here a lot of years and we are all devastated. We are a close-knit team, not just colleagues."

There are also fears TransEuropa staff will not be paid for the past month's work.

The employee said: "We are due to be paid this week, but obviously it doesn't look likely that will happen."

"many of us have been here a lot of years and we are all devastated..." – transeuropa employee

Problems with TransEuropa's finances were first indicated last week when P&O repossessed its Pride Of Calais ferry from the company.

A P&O spokesman said: "TransEuropa arranged to take on one of our ships in December last year on a bareboat charter (free of crew), but it didn't pay between January and March, so we repossessed it last week."

The ship has been laid up in Tilbury, Essex, since last Friday as its 45-strong crew - employed by TransEuropa through a Slovenian agency - are refusing to leave until they are paid their wages.

The P&O spokesman added: "A P&O captain is on board, and a representative of the International Transport Workers' Federation has met with the crew and is negotiating with TransEuropa and the agency, and we are confident the matter will be resolved soon."

All TransEuropa services have been suspended. It it is believed those who booked crossings through agencies will be able to get refunds, but those who booked directly will have to contact TransEuropa for more information on whether refunds will be available.

No one from the firm was available for comment. The company's website is currently offline. Phone the Ramsgate office on 01843 595522.