Marine groups protest against mooring fee increases

The group, led by Guernsey Boatowners Association president Nick Guillemette and Guernsey Marine Traders Association president David Norman, displayed boards and placards as they handed over a petition fighting the increases to States’ Trading Supervisory Board president Peter Roffey.

The petition has received more than 1,200 signatures.

STSB, through Guernsey Ports, had originally proposed increases of between 20% and 30% on mooring fees for 2025, but in September changed this to outlining RPI-based rises of 8.3%.

These were laid before the States yesterday, with further discussions between Ports and marine industry representatives about fees for 2026 and beyond set to take place early next year.

Mr Guillemette said that marine group members had already achieved something by getting increases for next year down to 8.3%, but hoped that handing over the petition in person to Deputy Roffey would make a further impact ahead of the meetings next year.

‘A week ago some of us met with the senior management of Guernsey Ports to discuss how we might work towards a more affordable, multi-year, mooring fee charging scheme that could be applied from 2026,’ he said.

‘At the moment the industry is stagnant, brokers are full because boat sales are not being made, and youngsters are not starting apprenticeships.’

With the prospect of GST from 2027, Mr Guillemette said that boatowners needed to know whether or not they would be able to afford what was coming.

‘The fact that we will be sitting down with Ports again next year is promising, and really that’s because of the petition,' he added.

‘It’s been a 12-month struggle.’

Deputy Roffey said he apologised for what he called the ‘big’ increases that were previously proposed, adding that it was not STSB’s intention to introduce large rises for 2026.

‘It was erroneous,’ he said.

‘We’ve taken notice of the message from the boat owners, and our recommendation is a more modest increase.’

Mr Norman said the GMTA’s priority was addressing the lack of synergy between the ‘profitable’ harbours and the ‘continually loss-making’ airport, adding that this year the airport was forecast to make a loss of more than £6m., with the harbour making a surplus of more than £1.5m.

‘The harbour and the airport, they are fish and fowl,’ he said.

‘They are each about the same size in turnover terms at £13.9m. and should be split, with the harbours being able to retain surpluses in its own holding account for future years.

'Two smaller businesses with good focus on finances, especially revenue and costs, would be much more effective than the current set-up.’

He also wished to clarify that both he and Mr Guillemette believed that if the States was agree to make the Ports incorporated businesses, like Jersey Ports, then the Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority might have been able to regulate proposed fee increases.

Both men said that a previous article had wrongly reported that Mr Guillemette was calling for incorporation to happen.

‘Looking at the massive price hikes proposed from STSB businesses it would be in the interest of island residents that the GCRA had powers over the STSB business and could exercise their scrutiny to all our benefit,’ Mr Norman said.

‘But I certainly do not concur that they [STSB and ports] should be privatised alone or together.’