Iris Freight looks to fill the inter-island gap

Shipping firm Iris Freight, which already operates an inter-island service 364 days a year, has said that it is considering options to increase availability for freight and passengers on its daily run between Guernsey and Jersey.

It is not expected that DFDS and Brittany Ferries or Condor will operate anything like a daily service.

‘We are currently in discussions with our key stakeholders with a view to increasing tonnage to meet the expected rise in demand,’ said Iris Freight director Andrew Dann.

‘This may mean purchasing or leasing a larger vessel for the route.’

Iris Freight’s current vessel, Channel Chieftain V, carries the national newspapers and other freight from Jersey to Guernsey every day except Christmas Day, and has capacity for 12 passengers. With the new ferry contracts due to come into effect in March next year, the company said that it was looking at ways to increase its own capacity on the inter-island route to take up the anticipated shortfall.

Mr Dann added that the company was also interested in the possibility of creating freight hubs in both Guernsey and Jersey. Goods coming into the islands from the UK or France could be held in the hubs before being shipped on to their intended destination.

‘These hubs would be of special interest to small and medium-sized businesses as they would have the effect of cutting down on warehousing costs,’ he explained. ‘Many companies in Guernsey and Jersey already work closely together and such an arrangement would make doing business far more economical for them.’

Iris Freight has been operating the inter-island route for eight years.

‘We have an all-weather boat with a record of 99% reliability since we commenced operations,’ said Iris Freight director and skipper David Nuth.

‘Given the unpredictability of Channel Island sea conditions, that is quite remarkable and can only be good news for our customers who depend on our service.’