Former Condor CEO Criticizes Timing of Channel Island Ferry Tender

Paul Luxon, a former CEO of Condor, has voiced his dissatisfaction regarding the schedule for selecting an operator to manage Channel Island sea links for the upcoming 15 years. Speaking on the Your Voice, Your Vote podcast, Mr. Luxon stated his conviction that the tender process ought to have commenced closer to the start of the current political term. He further conveyed his disappointment that the islands have, to date, not reached a unified resolution concerning the future of their ferry services. The government of Guernsey has designated Brittany Ferries as its favored candidate to operate its sea connections, whereas Jersey has initiated a separate procedure to identify an operator. The BBC has reached out to Brittany Ferries and the Government of Jersey to solicit their comments. Previously this year, the administrations of the two largest Channel Islands declared their collaborative effort to secure a ferry operator for sea links over the next 15 years. Mr. Luxon led Condor Ferries, a company now predominantly owned by Brittany Ferries, from 2016 to 2021. Prior to this role, he held ministerial positions within the Health and Social Services Department and the Public Services Department. Neil Inder, President of Guernsey’s Committee for Economic Development, who has been supervising this undertaking, had previously indicated an expectation for the contract with Brittany Ferries to be finalized on Tuesday 26 November; however, this signing has not yet occurred. He further stated that the company met all the specified requirements for the tender, particularly concerning financial assurances and appropriateness. In a briefing provided to politicians earlier this month, Mr. Inder affirmed that Brittany Ferries would not receive any financial aid from Guernsey’s States. Mr. Luxon informed the podcast that the existing contract with Condor Ferries included a three-year transition phase, and he was of the opinion that initiating the search for a new operator at the commencement of this phase would have been opportune. He quoted: “Four years have been wasted in coming to a conclusion, by having three years as a run-off that would have given any new operator the time to build some new ships. “He added, “They cost €80m to €90m, probably a bit more now, as I’m a bit out of tune.” Initially, the proposal from the States of Guernsey and the Government of Jersey for an operator to manage the sea links was for a 15-year contract, with an option for a 10-year extension. The former chief executive emphasized the requirement for financial assurances from any entity awarded the new contract. He stated: “Whatever this island does, there has to be a financial sustainability of whoever is the operator, who can actually write a cheque or take on a commitment for a charter, of two vessels, so we are looking at £250m.”He continued, “Whoever it is has got to have an access to funding to renew the fleet, all of which are in the final quarter of their life. It’s an ageing fleet.” Kirsten Morel, Jersey’s Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, conveyed his “concerns” regarding Brittany Ferries’ “financial situation.”Subsequently, Jean-Marc Roué, chairman of Brittany Ferries, sent a letter to Jersey’s Chief Minister Deputy Lyndon Farnham, addressing what he perceived as “damaging comments” originating from the States of Jersey and various media outlets. He penned: “The company I chair exists because its only guide is customer satisfaction.”He further added: “The financial benefits of our activities are totally reinvested in the company.” For updates, follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Story suggestions can be sent to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.