Operators bidding for islands’ ferry routes waiting for result
COMPANIES bidding for Channel Islands ferry routes are still waiting to find out who has won the contract – despite the original tender documents stating that unsuccessful firms would be notified by yesterday at the latest.
The announcement is now expected in October.
Current operator Condor Ferries is up against at least one other bidder, Danish company DFDS. Neither company has commented about the delay.
The issue was raised at the first meeting of Jersey’s States Assembly since the summer break when Economic Development minister Kirsten Morel responded to a question about when the outcome of the tender process would be announced.
‘I currently expect to be in a position to inform members and the public of the successful bidder during October,’ he said.
He added that Jersey and Guernsey would have an equal say in the process and that his department and Guernsey’s Economic Development Committee had a memorandum of understanding in place for how to act in the event of a difference of opinion about which operator to appoint.
Economic Development president Deputy Neil Inder did not wish to add anything to his counterpart’s comments yesterday.
Deputy Morel also said that special transitional arrangements might be needed between the announcement of the winning company and the end of the current deal with Condor in March next year, especially if a company other than Condor was appointed.
‘The exact look of those transitional arrangements I couldn’t describe at the moment,’ he said.
Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that Condor had formally become part of the Brittany Ferries’ group.
The Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority approved the French company’s bid to acquire a majority stake in Condor, which has served the Channel Islands for decades.
Brittany now owns 51% of the shares in Condor. Operational responsibility for Condor has immediately been taken on by Brittany.
‘Ultimately, this is a good news story for the Channel Islands as it will result in a better service for Condor’s passengers,’ said Condor and Brittany Ferries’ chief executive Christophe Matthieu.
‘Brittany Ferries possesses the experience, expertise and scale, combined with deep knowledge of the transport sector and customer service over five decades, to implement best practices effectively.’
Condor was acquired in November 2019 by a consortium of companies including Brittany and London-based Columbia Threadneedle European Sustainable Infrastructure Fund.
The fund now has a minority shareholding.
Mr Matthieu said he wanted to emphasise that Brittany’s commitment to Condor and the Channel Islands was ‘absolute and enduring’.
‘This is not a short-term arrangement. Rather, Brittany Ferries’ philosophy will be integrated into passenger and freight management as part of a long-term strategy,’ he said.
