Herm buys its own ferry to offer ‘bespoke service’
HERM ISLAND has bought its own ferry and hopes to start a scheduled service in July – but it is not designed to compete with Travel Trident.
Isle of Herm is a 14m, 70-seat catamaran being built in the UK.
Herm Island CEO Craig Senior hopes it will arrive in Guernsey next month to start sea trials.
The decision to purchase the boat came after the island’s long-running contract with Travel Trident ended last March and nothing was set up in its place.
Mr Senior said last year that Herm was looking at its operating costs and trying to find the best way forward.
‘Herm just needs a bit more of its own independence of operations for the community and businesses,’ said Mr Senior.
‘But we’re not looking to compete with or replace Travel Trident.
‘We are hoping to working alongside them. I think Trident is irreplaceable. Perhaps we will offer a more bespoke service and giving customers a further option.’
Bookings for the service will be online or via an app and Mr Senior said a schedule will be published in due course.
Isle of Herm is being built by Blyth Catamarans in Canvey Island, Essex, and Mr Senior said it was a bespoke build that cost Herm more than £750,000.
Having its own ferry will mean the island will not have to pay the fees it has had to pay for a service over the years.
It is advertising in the Guernsey Press for a full-time qualified skipper for the boat, whose job will involve appointing part-time skippers to cover days off and two additional crew to man the vessel.
The successful applicant will also be responsible for arranging all maintenance, repairs and cleaning programmes.
Travel Trident managing director Peter Wilcox said the family had no comment to make, other than to wish Herm well in their change of direction.
