Societe Nationale Corse-Mediterranee (SNCM), the French ferry company, has received a second bill of €220 million from Brussels, this time about state aid granted prior to the privatisation of the company.

In May, the company was ordered to pay back another €220 million, this time over competition issues, media reports say.

The company operates ferry services from southern France to Corsica and North Africa. It has been rumoured to plan an eight ship newbuilding programme to replace its fleet of ageing vessels.

Transdev, which part of the French conglomerate Veolia, controls 66% of the shares in SNCM while the French state has a 25% stake and the staff own the rest.