‘Another player’ interested in inter-island ferry services
An unnamed ferry operator is reportedly considering running services between Guernsey and Jersey.
Economic Development president Neil Inder has said that a fourth company recently expressed an interest in the inter-island route.
Guernsey’s new operator, Brittany Ferries, intends to run a return sailing on one weekday each week from April and Jersey’s new operator, DFDS, is expected to offer the same frequency.
‘There is also a discussion about weekend inter-island links. This all needs to be negotiated,’ said Deputy Inder, following a telephone call last week with his Jersey counterpart Deputy Kirsten Morel.
‘In between that, we’ve also got Manche-Iles Express, and there is another player in the market expressing some interest in looking at inter-island links as well.
‘This is not just about foot passengers. It’s also about freight. We send something like one container a day inter-island which may not have a lot of value but what’s in it does. We’ve got to get horse boxes, cars, cyclists and sportsmen and women inter-island, and both islands are absolutely keen to deliver on that.’
Deputy Inder revealed that Brittany Ferries’ proposed inter-island sailing each Wednesday had now been ‘supported and approved in Jersey’.
But when pressed by Scrutiny president Deputy Yvonne Burford to set out Economic Development’s minimum expectations of frequency on the Guernsey-Jersey route this summer, Deputy Inder admitted that the schedule remained ‘not acceptable’ and required more sailings.
He said Economic Development’s officials had been instructed to work with their counterparts in Jersey and ferry operators to come up with ‘a workable solution’, but progress was still held up by delays in DFDS finalising its Jersey-UK and Jersey-France schedule.
The islands appointed different operators late last year after a joint Channel Islands’ tender process fell apart. Guernsey has signed a 15-year deal with Brittany Ferries and Jersey has awarded DFDS a 20-year contract.
Deputy Andrew Taylor wanted to know more about the inter-island services offered by Brittany Ferries when it submitted its bid to the joint tender process.
Deputy Inder would not provide details and told the States that the French firm’s offer ‘quite clearly fell away’ once Guernsey and Jersey appointed different operators.
‘When we made that decision, we knew the inter-island discussion would have to happen another day,’ he said.
Deputy Peter Roffey asked about bookings made since the Guernsey-only schedule was published in November.
‘Unlike previously, I have demanded that Brittany Ferries provides data on a regular basis to Visit Guernsey,’ said Deputy Inder. ‘At the moment, the bookings are holding up. The important thing is that what will make the French route work is French people filling up those boats coming to Guernsey.’
