New £50m. fast ferry could be here by Easter

But the future of the Weymouth route looks in doubt.

James Fulford, pictured, said that now the ferry company had negotiated a deal with the governments of Guernsey and Jersey, it would look to get the final steps sorted out before signing off an agreement to buy the new Austal trimaran.

Condor now has to formally apply for an extended Jersey harbour ramp operating licence, under the Jersey law.

'If we get the ramp permit agreed, which should be over the next month, than we will be able to complete the investment,' he said. 'We will do all the pre-delivery actions and it will be over in Easter next year.'

The trimaran, made by Australian ferry manufactures Austal, will run the northern route to England.

Mr Fulford revealed that it would sail to only one port in the UK – Weymouth or Poole.

Discussions, he said, were happening with both councils. And he would not be drawn on where Condor would prefer to go.

However, Weymouth's berth needs a £10m. upgrade for it to be big enough to hold the new trimaran and Weymouth Council has highlighted its concerns that the company might pull out of that route.

Mr Fulford has previously said the company had not ruled out a contribution to the cost of the works to the berth.

But Guernsey's External Transport Group chairman Paul Luxon believed it now looked unlikely that Condor would operate from Weymouth in the future.