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Guernsey has signed a 15-year contract with Brittany Ferries for the island's lifeline sea links.
The decision to go with Brittany Ferries - which now owns Condor Ferries - was made in October, after the joint tender process with Jersey fell down.
Today, Guernsey's Economic Development President put pen to paper to confirm that decision.
"Negotiations with Brittany Ferries on a Guernsey-only service have progressed at pace so that we can give assurance to our community, our economy, and our critical supply chain," said Deputy Neil Inder.
Pictured: Deputy Neil Inder.
"We are confident the new schedule offers the community consistency and resilience. The Committee selected Brittany Ferries as its preferred bidder after a detailed 10-month tender in which its bid met all criteria set out within the tender.
"I know we’ll be asked so I will confirm now that no public money is committed to Brittany Ferries in support of the delivery of the schedule.
"Brittany Ferries believes the schedule will enable it to be commercially viable and we are confident it strikes the right balance between enabling the company to achieve that while providing the lifeline services that we need. This is an important step in delivering the certainty for our community that our Committee set out to achieve.’
Christophe Mathieu, Brittany Ferries Chief Executive, said he is thrilled that his company has signed "a long term agreement with the States of Guernsey to provide freight and passenger services".
"This significant milestone secures vessels, berths and timetables and much needed certainty for all those relying on ferry services next year," said Mr Mathieu. "Since sailings were made available, we have seen more than 3,000 passengers book between the UK, France and Guernsey, providing a welcome boost for tourism, hospitality and outbound travel for islanders."
The news that Guernsey's contract has been signed comes just under 24 hours after Jersey confirmed it was going with DFDS, and not Brittany Ferries for its ferry services for the next 15-years.
Pictured: Guernsey has signed with Brittany Ferries, while Jersey has gone with DFDS.
In a statement issued yesterday evening, Jersey's Economic Development Minister said that the Danish shipping company is the "strongest strategic partner for Jersey".
Deputy Kirsten Morel said he had taken the decision with the full support of the island's Council of Ministers.
Meanwhile in Guernsey, the island's first Ro-Ro licence will go to Brittany Ferries with the company having permission to assign the licence to Condor Ferries subject to compliance with the concession agreement.
Our new ferry service starts with the 2025 spring and summer schedule, which runs from 28 March through to 30 September 2025, with Brittany Ferries providing a full financial and operational guarantee over the services in the contract.
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