Channel Islands Ferry Services: A Chronology of Recent Developments

Condor Ferries, which has provided services to the two largest Channel Islands for 60 years, will cease its operations for Jersey following the island’s selection of Danish firm DFDS to manage its ferry services starting in March. Jersey stated that the new agreement promises quicker and more frequent ferry connections, alongside two high-speed services during the summer season. Meanwhile, Guernsey had previously chosen Brittany Ferries, Condor’s parent company, in October to operate its services for the subsequent 15 years after a competitive tender process. However, Condor declined Jersey’s proposal for a seven-month extension to its existing contract. Concurrently, DFDS, a competing bidder, expressed its readiness to assume operation of the routes. Condor’s prior agreements with both islands are scheduled to conclude in March 2025, prompting both governments to initiate a tender process for the next 15 years of service back in 2023. The initial objective was to finalize this process by the end of September 2024, a deadline that was not met. Earlier in the year, the Government of Jersey and the States of Guernsey had provided bidders with a detailed timeline for the tender process: 22 July: Shortlisting notification 29 July to 12 August: Clarifications and negotiation period 12 August: Invitation to submit final tender issued 19 to 26 August: Evaluation period 2 to 12 September: Unsuccessful bidders informed 2 to 23 September: Finalising agreement period 30 September: Final contract award date Guernsey announced Brittany Ferries as its preferred bidder one month later than originally scheduled. Jersey, conversely, opted to postpone its decision, amidst conflicting reports regarding awareness and timing, subsequently launching a new tender process. Deputy Kirsten Morel, Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, commented: “Both the original and Jersey-only tender process required prospective operators to set out a clear plan for a mobilisation fleet to be in place for day one of any new operating agreement, to ensure that the route could be fully serviced by sufficient tonnage and passenger capacity.” He further added, “The procurement process also asked that this mobilisation fleet be available without assumptions being made on the future acquisition of vessels from other operators.” In April 2023, the States of Guernsey assisted Condor in acquiring its new ferry, the Condor Islander, a move it justified as essential for safeguarding the island’s supply chain. Later that same year, the States did not dismiss the possibility of being in discussions to purchase a stake in Condor. In December, DFDS conducted trials with its ferry, the Finlandia, in the harbours of St Helier and St Peter Port. These trials were part of contingency planning financed by both islands. While the trial in St Helier was deemed successful, the ferry made contact with a wall in St Peter Port harbour upon its departure. January 2024 saw Jersey and Guernsey jointly announce a tender process for their ferry services over the next 15 years, with the chosen operator expected to commence services in spring 2025. The Danish company DFDS disclosed its intention to bid for the routes and organized public meetings to gather islanders’ preferences for their ferry service. The formal tender bidding process commenced on 15 May, with Guernsey’s government assuring an “open and impartial” procedure. Condor, the incumbent operator, confirmed its participation in the bid. However, Stena Line, a prospective bidder, declared its withdrawal from the process, citing competing priorities and a lack of alignment with its business model. Maritime business expert Alf Baird suggested that the tender process inherently favored Condor as the existing operator. The initial self-imposed deadline, which required informing shortlisted companies by 22 July, passed without any notifications being sent to the firms. In August, the BBC reported that Irish Ferries had also submitted a bid. The subsequent month, concurrent with Brittany Ferries becoming the majority shareholder in Condor, DFDS successfully conducted trials of its vessels in Guernsey and Jersey. In October, a senior civil servant in Jersey recused himself from any involvement in the tender process after participating in an online poll on Facebook asking users to select their preferred ferry company. The government characterized this as an “inadvertent mistake,” but Jersey cautioned that its decision might be postponed until November due to the resignation. This situation prompted Brittany Ferries to issue a warning that tourists might seek alternative destinations if the decision was delayed, while a consumer advocacy group urged decision-makers to “hurry up.” On 30 October, Guernsey declared its selection of Brittany Ferries as its preferred company for operating its ferry routes. Jersey’s government initially stated that it became aware of Guernsey’s decision only upon the publication of a press release, with Jersey’s Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel remarking that it was “not a good look.” Conversely, Guernsey Deputy Neil Inder asserted that Jersey had been informed of the plans two weeks prior to the announcement. Jersey then offered Condor a seven-month extension to its contract to allow the government more time for its decision, an offer Condor rejected, expressing that it was “surprised and disappointed.” This period of uncertainty necessitated a standby ferry, the MV Arrow, as part of contingency arrangements that cost Jersey and Guernsey a combined €700,000 (£580,000) per month. Guernsey’s States indicated that a ferry service exclusively for Guernsey could fulfill its requirements, while DFDS expressed interest in providing a service solely for Jersey. However, a Guernsey tourism group deemed the prospect of different ferry providers for each island as “unworkable.” Jersey’s government announced its intention to initiate a condensed, Jersey-only tender process, with a decision anticipated by the end of the month. This timeline was subsequently delayed, with Morel indicating an expectation for a decision in early December. Morel faced scrutiny, with deputies demanding to question him regarding the management of the preceding tender process. Morel defended the delay, asserting it was in the island’s best interests, and added that he would engage with DFDS to operate Jersey’s ferry service on an interim basis. On 22 November, Brittany Ferries released its 2025 timetable for Guernsey. The company stated it would operate to Jersey only once a week from late March, a reduction from the daily or more frequent sailings of recent years, which the States of Guernsey described as “not yet optimal.” The new schedule also drew criticism from a former harbour master concerning the absence of a backup for the fast ferry. The company confirmed it would maintain a daily, high-speed service connecting the island, St Malo, and Poole, a development cautiously welcomed by local business leaders. At the close of November, Brittany Ferries’ chief executive Christophe Mathieu announced that Condor would be rebranded as Brittany Ferries Channel Islands, marking the end of 60 years of the Condor name in the islands. After several months of anticipation, Jersey declared its decision to support the DFDS bid on 3 December. The Government of Jersey stated that this agreement would lead to more frequent ferry services to the UK and France during peak periods, as well as faster connections to the UK. It also specified the provision of two high-speed ferries in summer and a flat rate card for freight users. Morel affirmed that Jersey had conducted a “robust procurement process that has been independently moderated” and that the outcomes demonstrated DFDS to be “the strongest strategic partner for Jersey.”