States tight-lipped over the future of sea links

Officials from Guernsey and Jersey jointly welcomed Condor Ferries’ confidence about resolving recent difficulties amid reports the company was experiencing financial challenges.

But they declined to comment on claims that the current level of passenger and freight services could be at risk over the next 12 months and that talks had been held about a taxpayer-funded deal to rescue sea links.

The States also refused to confirm or deny that it was currently working with a company which provides operational advice to ferry operators and that it was concerned about whether it could recover a considerable sum owed in ports fees.

Several deputies who have previously spoken freely about sea links or were typically open with the media would not speak on the record yesterday. Privately some of them said they feared that doing so could turn a serious challenge into an immediate crisis.

‘Condor has an operating agreement with Jersey, and a memorandum of understanding with Guernsey, to provide ferry services until 2025, and those agreements are still in effect,’ said a spokesman for both islands’ States.

‘Jersey and Guernsey welcome the reassurance which Condor gave by issuing a public statement on Friday. Both governments have numerous commercial agreements in place with a wide range of businesses and neither government would comment publicly on any of those commercial matters.’

Last weekend both islands ran trials with a freight vessel independent of Condor. The States said yesterday that the trials were a success.

‘We are very grateful to all stakeholders involved in Saturday’s exercise with DFDS Finlandia Seaways,’ said the spokesman.

‘The successful entry, berthing and exit from the ports in St Helier and St Peter Port confirmed the viability of a vessel of this type as a further option for contingency planning purposes and helped to inform the circumstances and measures that would be required in order to enable this option.

‘This further strengthens the islands’ resilience. Once again, we apologise for any inconvenience caused to planned travel and thank Condor for rescheduling around the exercise.’

Condor’s difficulties and the security of the island’s sea links are likely to be a high priority for the newly-elected Policy & Resources Committee, which is holding its first full meeting today following its election last week.

When new P&R president Lyndon Trott was the committee’s vice-president, during the 2016-20 States term, he spoke repeatedly about the need to do more to put in place contingency plans in case of any disruption in freight or passenger services provided by Condor.

Through his new role in the States, Deputy Trott has become chairman of the Civil Contingencies Authority. Its former chairman, Peter Ferbrache, has offered to act as an adviser to the new CCA on this issue if required.

Key questions asked by the Guernsey Press which the States refused to answer yesterday included:

• To what extent is the States confident that the island’s current level of passenger and freight services will be maintained over the next 12 months?

• What indications have the States had that it may need to step in to provide financial support to allow the island’s passenger and freight services to be maintained over the next 12 months?

• How confident is the States that it will not have to take on the ownership and/or operation of freight and ferry services to the island over the next 12 months?

• Has Condor requested further financial support from the States since the support provided to purchase the Islander earlier this year?

• Do any ferry operators owe the States unpaid ports fees dating back longer than three months; and, if so, which ferry operators?