Guernsey Awards 15-Year Sea Link Contract to Brittany Ferries

Guernsey has designated Brittany Ferries as its favored contender to manage its essential maritime connections for the upcoming 15-year period. The Government of Jersey, however, has not yet determined which firm will run its services. Kirsten Morel, who serves as Jersey’s Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, stated his intention to request additional details from “both bidders” within the subsequent 24 hours. Guernsey’s Committee for Economic Development (CED), having unanimously chosen Brittany Ferries, indicated its rationale was to “provide certainty for island residents and businesses”. The choice had been narrowed down to Brittany Ferries and the Danish company DFDS. According to the BBC, Irish Ferries is no longer being considered for the Jersey contract. The committee stated that Brittany Ferries would deliver Guernsey’s vital maritime connections, including freight and passenger operations, utilizing its existing management and infrastructure alongside the deployment of Condor’s current fleet. It further noted: “Guernsey’s preference remains a shared pan Channel Island service with Jersey, but we await word from our Jersey partners, expected tomorrow [Thursday].” A representative for the States of Jersey conveyed its acknowledgment of the decision’s significance for all island residents, given that the ferry services contract is set to span the next 15 years. The representative added: “We are doing everything possible to ensure a swift conclusion. We’re planning to meet with both bidders in the next 24 hours, as we have further questions that need to be answered.” Morel commented that the circumstances did not present “a good look”. He elaborated: “It is the way it is, we are two separate jurisdictions. We have two different ways of looking at things and so this has been a good process in terms of working together, but when you analyse the information Jersey felt it wasn’t in a position to award right now.” Simon Vermeulen, a member of Guernsey’s Economic Development, expressed his full endorsement of the decision. He stated: “Brittany Ferries are a tried and tested service.” He continued: “We had already postponed the decision from September, and we’ve got to get on with business. But I can say the process has been done properly from our side with all due diligence.” Brittany Ferries holds a majority stake in Condor Ferries, a company that has also historically supplied ferry services to the Channel Islands. Christophe Mathieu, the chief executive of both Brittany Ferries and Condor Ferries, conveyed that the ferry companies were “thrilled” by the new licence and “grateful for the opportunity to develop our vital sea links over the next 15 years”. He added: “We also look forward to the Government of Jersey joining us in this initiative. With over 70 years of providing freight and passenger services to Guernsey and Jersey, collaborating will allow us to optimise the schedule for the benefit of both islands.” Guernsey’s declaration came after ferry operators and businesses had urged for an “immediate” resolution regarding which company would manage ferry services in the Channel Islands starting in March. Brittany Ferries, Condor Ferries, the Jersey Chamber of Commerce, and the Jersey Hospitality Association (JHA) collectively stated that the “prolonged impasse” concerning the contract award was “detrimental” to the tourism sector. Deputy Neil Inder, president of the CED, commented that the tender process had “not been easy at times”. He affirmed: “But it has been thorough and approached by the States of Guernsey in a professional manner.” He characterized the outcome as the “best possible deal for islanders”. Inder indicated that should Brittany Ferries provide a service exclusively for Guernsey, the new setup would entail modifications to how certain services function. He asserted: “But we will have the same freight and passenger capacity for our community, improved resilience in the fleet, and the benefit of Brittany Ferries’ expertise, willingness to innovate, and commitment to improved customer services.” He concluded: “We will then move to considering how we can secure investment in new vessels.” For updates, follow BBC Guernsey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Story ideas can be sent to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.