COMPANIES accused of running a cross-Channel “cartel” are to be reported to the Office of Fair Trading and the European commission.

The complaint, to be made within the next two weeks, is to be lodged by SpeedFerries, run by a Danish entrepreneur who last month launched a cut-price service from Dover to Boulogne.

Curt Stavis, founder of SpeedFerries, claims there is enough evidence to merit an investigation into possible price-fixing by rival ferry companies and by Eurotunnel, the Channel tunnel operator. The market is already the subject of a pricing inquiry by the European commission.

Stavis is also alleging that his competitors — in particular Hoverspeed, which runs catamarans from Dover to Calais — have engaged in “dirty tricks” to try to curb his operations.

SpeedFerries is to sue its rivals in the British courts for loss of business caused by allegedly unfair tactics.

Stavis said: “We have instructed our lawyers to file complaints over a number of unfair competitive actions, as well as a request for investigation of what appears to be a coordinated price structure.

“This dirty tricks war is still going on and it does take up a lot of my management attention — part of the idea, I suspect. The cartel is very active and there is almost an incident every day.”

Geoffrey Ede, managing director of Hoverspeed, strongly rejected any suggestion his company had been engaged in price collusion or “dirty tricks”. He described Stavis as “cunning” and “sensationalist”.

He said he was “astounded” at the allegation that Hoverspeed had tried to poach staff. He alleged SpeedFerries had instead tried to lure his own employees. “It stopped because none of our staff wanted to join them except a few dissidents who have always got a grudge,” he said.

Stavis has also accused rivals of deliberately delaying SpeedFerries sailings from Dover by parking vessels at his berth, claiming their own loading ramps were faulty.

Despite the claims of unfair competition, there are signs that SpeedFerries’ entry in the market, offering return fares of as little as £50, has already spurred price cuts.

Special deals from both Eurotunnel and SeaFrance have been attributed to the pressure caused by the new competition.

All Stavis’s competitors deny claims of collusion and say they operate in a highly competitive cross-Channel market. Robin Wilkins, managing director of SeaFrance UK, said the allegation was “laughable”.

Additional reporting: David Robertson

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