The deal appears to put to an end a long-running dispute that had seen original proposals to increase fees by up to 30% and culminated in a petition signed by more than 1,000 people and complaints made to the competition regulator.
The new four-year agreement was announced at the AGM of the Guernsey Boatowners Association. It will see a rise of 8.9% in 2026, representing a cost-of-living rise plus 5%, and then increases for 2027, 2028 and 2029 will be capped at inflation plus 1.5%. From 2030 onwards, mooring fee increases will be linked to inflation.
‘Mooring fees have been a concern over the past three years and I am fully aware that some owners of boats have either placed your boats up for sale or are seriously considering the viability of continuing boating,’ said GBA president Nick Guillemette.
‘However, after lengthy talks with our local authorities, coupled with our successful petition we raised last December, I am very pleased to report that Guernsey Ports and the States Trading Supervisory Board have at last listened to our concerns and various arguments.
‘This will hopefully go some way to calming down your growing concerns and enable you to decide whether you can afford to continue enjoying leisure boating.’
The Guernsey Marine Traders Association, the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club, and the Guernsey Yacht Club were all involved in the talks.
‘Remember, the 8.9% is considerably less than the original plan for 2026 which was for a rise of between 11.9-35.7% plus RPI,’ Mr Guillemette said.
‘We wanted stability and are pleased the authorities have taken on board our concerns.’
But he feared the prospect of GST being introduced in the island. ‘If they do it will be on top of our agreed rises,’ he said, ‘and that would be disastrous for all concerned.’
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