Ferry operator P&O has said it is planning to close a number of routes, and is buying Dutch partner Stena Line's 40% stake in their joint business for �150m.

P&O wants to cut its P&O Stena Line fleet from 10 ferries to eight and is discussing the possible closure of the Dover to Zeebrugge route towards the end of this year.

The company has also begun talks on the possible closure of the routes between Felixstowe and Zeebrugge and Felixstowe and Rotterdam which are part of the P&O North Sea Ferries business.

P&O said the routes have failed to generate enough profit.

The firm said the move to buy Stena Line's stake would strengthen its position in a part of the UK to continental European ferry market which was consistently profitable and offered a strong growth opportunity.

Job cuts

P&O's communications and strategy director Peter Smith said about 100 jobs could go at Felixstowe and Zeebrugge as a result of the cutbacks.

Last month P&O said it was to cut 1,000 jobs at its container shipping firm P&O Nedlloyd.

P&O also said it was in talks with Stena Line about selling them three of P&O's ferries which are currently used on Felixstowe routes.

Stena Line said it decided to sell its stake as it wanted to focus on its fully-owned services in the North Sea, Irish Sea and around Scandinavia.

P&O's ferry business suffered last year from the impact of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, which cut �13m off its profits.

"P&O Stena Line is a good business but by having a single operator again we feel it will give us a better opportunity to maximise the strength of our brand," a P&O spokesman said.