The two MyFerryLink vessels occupied by protesting seamen in the port of Calais for more than two months this summer were finally freed up and handed over to Eurotunnel yesterday.

DFDS, which is leasing them from Eurotunnel under a 'bareboat' agreement, confirmed that it was planning to introduce a three-ferry operation between Dover and Calais during the final quarter of 2015 compared to two currently.

MyFerryLink's Rodin and Berlioz will resume their habitual route along with DFDS' Calais Seaways.

The Danish shipping group is hiring 202 MyFerryLink personnel to man the Rodin and theBerlioz

The Malo Seaways, which is presently operating between Dover and Calais, will be transferred "to other duties in our network,"a DFDS spokesman said.

DFDS also has three vessels operating the Dover-Dunkirk route which rose to four this summer when its vessels were denied access to Calais due to industrial action by MyFerrylnk workers.

As for MyFerryLink's third vessel, the Nord Pas de Calais freighter, Eurotunnel plans to continue to operate it between Dover and Calais pending approval from the UK's Competiton and Markets Authority.

A visit to the Rodin yesterday by a delegation made up of a maritime assessor two bailiffs, two fleet managers from DFDS, members of the SCOP SeaFrance workers co-operative and a Eurotunnel official, confirmed that the vessel had suffered considerable damage in seating areas during its occupation, with upholstery slashed.

A PA system amplifier, a TV and two decorative paintngs are reported missing while the screens of cash registers have been smashed.

However, the ship's navigation capabilities, at first glance at least, are not thought to have been damaged.

"It's distressing to see the ship in this state. Eurotunnel invested a lot in making MyFerryLink a success and battled to save the company but the CMA decided otherwise," the Eurotunnel official said. 

"Who would have thought that seamen and employees would destroy their own workplace and it's particularly saddening for those wh'll be coming back to work here. We know who's behind it and they'll be getting the bill,"he added.