AS MANY AS 60 Dublin-based jobs could be lost as a result of plans by ferry operator DFDS to terminate services from Dublin Port, due to “difficult” market conditions.

A period of consultation has begun for 50 land-based employees, RTÉ has reported.

A total of 200 jobs are at risk throughout the company as a result of the decision to cut the routes from Dublin to English ports of Birkenhead and Heysham. The routes will cease from the end of this month, the Irish Times reports.

CEO of the Danish company Niels Smedegaard said that “Despite an impressive effort from employees and a very comprehensive analysis of the market and evaluation of turnaround scenarios we have not succeeded in developing viable solutions for the routes”.

Ken Fleming of SIPTU said that the company arrived at its decision as a “direct result of the policy of over-issuing licences to shipping companies which has resulted in ship owners driving down wages and conditions below the legal minimum wage and safety standards.”