Guernsey Press

Herm is not putting profit before customers

IT IS with reluctance Herm Island Management has needed to send this letter to the Guernsey Press as, in our view, the media, or in this case the Guernsey Press, is certainly not the place for professional bodies such as Herm Island Management and Mr Wilcox of Travel Trident to meaningfully negotiate.

Published

However, following the headline, which we challenge, and article printed in the 28 April edition of the Guernsey Press, it is important that not only the Guernsey Press, but also quotes from Mr Wilcox, use only facts and not fictional, damaging headlines to grab the attention of those reading the paper, including the GP online version.

Herm is not putting profit before customers, or ‘prioritising revenue over guest wellbeing’, as per the quote from Mr Wilcox on the front page of last Friday’s edition of the Guernsey Press. The facts are Herm only commissioned its own new small ferry, and at significant cost, in order to ensure continuation of a ferry service to the island after Covid. Before doing so Herm extended a warm, open-door invitation to the directors of Travel Trident to discuss renewal of their contract in 2020. With no contract in place, the island was left vulnerable and had to secure a guaranteed ferry service out of necessity, rather than in a bid to compete. After the launch of Herm’s ferry service, Trident withdrew its winter service completely and chose to operate only in the financially-rewarding summer months. If Herm’s management had not had a ferry in place, Herm Island would have been left without any boat service at all from November to March for their staff and guests.

Herm never expected to make any profit from ferry operations – and it doesn’t. A guaranteed ferry service has always been Herm’s paramount consideration.

Herm has been in and will continue with meaningful negotiations with Travel Trident whenever possible but not through the media. We remain hopeful a sensible outcome will eventually be achieved, bearing in mind both businesses need a good working relationship, something Herm Island Management and the leaseholder aim to achieve.

In the meantime the Isle of Herm continues to offer a full year-round daily sailing schedule, using our brand-new vessel from one of the top boat manufacturers in the UK, which comfortably seats 69 passengers, offers a fast passage of 15 minutes, has used bio diesel and offers the ease of online ticket purchasing.

We would like to clarify that campers, holiday cottage and hotel guests travelling to Herm are made well aware by written communication and by phone before their arrival that a porter service will only be provided if they arrive on the Isle of Herm or Herm Lass ferries. The desire of all of us to reduce, rather than increase, the flow of quad bikes and tractors on the island and the limited staff available, are not possible to reconcile with provision of a porter service to Trident’s ferries in addition to Herm’s ferries.

All guests are advised prior to arrival and can choose to travel on Trident, without a porter service, or on any Isle of Herm boat, with a guaranteed porter service.

Herm welcomes the ferry service Trident provides and wish them to continue, but Herm Island Management needs to assure readers that claims of greed and profiteering are totally false.

Without a significant annual subsidy from the leaseholder during each of the 15 years since taking on the lease in 2008, the standards and facilities of this paradise island, enjoyed by thousands each year, would have suffered greatly.

Herm will always be here, long after Herm Island Ltd and Travel Trident are forgotten. Herm Island Ltd takes its duty of care to look after this beautiful slice of paradise within our Bailiwick extremely seriously, for the benefit of all who wish to visit.

Herm Island Management