Alderney goes from no ferries to two as operators collaborate

The Salty Blonde, which is subsided by the States of Alderney, has financed a 12-seater vessel, the Causeway Explorer, for Alderney Ferry Services.

This follows weeks of major problems for Alderney after both companies’ boats broke down.

However, repairs to the Salty Blonde’s vessel, Ashlin, are nearing completion and sailings will resume on Friday. They will be joined by Causeway Explorer on 1 July, after it is re-branded in Guernsey.

Alderney Ferry Services co-director Charlie Smith said the joint service would help the island’s economy recover.

‘Having this news is going to make the whole island busy and booming again,’ she said.

‘It has been so hard for Alderney and you can see how the economy has really started to crash.’

She said it was ‘terrifying’ to see Alderney’s empty streets, particularly after many had visited during the pandemic when the Bailiwick bubble was established.

‘We want to help everyone and we want to help businesses,’ she said.

‘We needed the guarantee of having our own vessel and this has been our dream for the last two years.’

A timetable offering multiple sailings every day is being prepared.

‘We can do a much more diverse ferry service,’ Miss Smith said.

‘There is no point in being competition – we might as well work together.’

She said the positive feedback on the company’s step into the market had been ‘insane’, and suggested the service could be extended in the future.

‘The support of Alderney has been what has kept us going.

‘Azula [their former boat] was an amazing vessel – she is definitely not out of the question.’

Salty Blonde group director Tracey Farquhar-Beck said the companies would be running as two separate businesses, but were working together to provide a service for the island.

‘We are delighted to collaborate and are thrilled that we could help finance this exciting endeavour... the movement of people is essential to the prosperity of Alderney.

‘[We] have a prime objective to work closely together to offer a reliable ferry service with a varied timetable.’

She said there were lots of bookings in the pipeline, and private hire skipper Buz White will transport visitors in his boat Access Challenger over Alderney Week.

‘The most important thing is positivity and that we are working together and collaborating.’

Alderney’s Policy & Finance Committee acting chairman Ian Carter applauded the joint approach.

‘This is welcome good news for Alderney and it’s especially pleasing that the operators of the Salty Blonde have been working closely with Alderney Ferry Services in a spirit of co-operation that can only benefit our island,’ he said.

‘We look forward to the resumption of services next week and congratulate both companies on weathering this storm with such a positive attitude.’

n For bookings visit www.thesaltyblonde.gg or www.alderneyferryservices.co.uk.