THE Port of Dover is facing an uncertain future as Hoverspeed closes its Dover-Calais fast ferry service next week, and P&O awaits the outcome of take-over speculation.

On Wednesday, parent company Sea Containers had still not made a formal announcement about the future of Hoverspeed. A recorded message said staff in the corporate communications department were unable to take calls.

However, Hoverspeed director in France, Jean-Pierre Buggenhout, was quoted as saying that the service would end on Monday, with the SeaCats being taken away to Greece.

The company’s website is still advertising sailings until December 23, and the 2006 schedule, starting on March 16, had also been published.

All this comes at a time when Norfolkline is taking delivery of three new ships for its Dover-Dunkerque route, with the first entering service on Thursday.

And Eurotunnel is waiting to see whether a deal can be agreed with its creditors to write off more than £4 billion debts in January to avoid bankruptcy.

Dover MP Gwyn Prosser said his office made a call to Hoverspeed at 9am on Tuesday and was told there would be no more sailings after Monday, and they were redirected to P&O Ferries and SeaFrance.

He said: "I have heard from sources that the company has looked again at the rules concerning the consultation period, which should end this Thursday, November 3."

"This fits in with the date we are expecting an announcement from Sea Containers. I think it is clear they will not be sailing after November 7. It is terrible, absolutely terrible, the way they have handled this. My gut feeling is that they will pull out altogether.

"They should inform the unions, but they have been refusing to go through the proper processes."

Next Wednesday, James Sherwood, president and chief executive officer of Sea Containers, is due to announce the company’s results for the third quarter of the year.