Condor deal 'must be in place by month end'
A DEAL to secure the long-term future of the island's ferry service needs to be in place by the end of this month before a new £50m. vessel can be introduced, Condor Ferries has revealed.
The ferry service has spent more than a year working with Guernsey and Jersey to agree a licence, which the company said had to meet the needs of the islands and give Condor the certainty it required to invest in the proposed new high-speed 102-metre trimaran.
While a deal looked set to be signed in February, CEO James Fulford admitted there had been unexpected delays.
'Because the ministers have been determined to get the best possible deal for the islands, discussions have taken longer than initially anticipated. However, in order to secure the future of the high-speed ferry service, the agreement needs to be in place by the end of June.
'This will allow Condor to introduce the new ship in time for the 2015 season.
'If the timetable slips, the benefits to our islands which have been so rigorously negotiated could be lost.'
