Select a region
Guernsey is pushing ahead with plans for its own ferry service with Economic Development telling us that there is a level of confidence that we can go it alone.
There have been talks in recent days between ED and Brittany Ferries with the Committee President saying he is sure that a Guernsey-only service can meet the island’s needs.
Deputy Neil Inder has also hit back at the "inaccurate narrative being purported" around the ferry tender process, saying Guernsey did not break away from the pan-island process, and that Brittany Ferries was selected as Guernsey's preferred operator based on the scoring process both islands were using, and that by doing so, Guernsey has got "certainty" which Jersey now doesn't.
"We have made good progress in our discussions with Brittany Ferries since we announced it as our preferred bidder on 30th October," he said today. "Based on those discussions we are confident that it can run a Guernsey-only service that meets our needs – subject to further negotiations on some elements.
Pictured: Deputy Neil Inder.
"I note Brittany Ferries’ announcement that it will not extend its current contract with Jersey by seven months. As I have consistently said since we made our decision, which Deputy Morel has confirmed, the Invitation for Tender enabled either island to come to its own decision if a joint agreement could not be reached.
"Jersey’s decision is a matter for that island. I will respect whatever decision it reaches, while of course being naturally disappointed if it’s not joining us with a single provider – the provider we selected, Brittany Ferries, was selected based on the joint tender that we ran with Jersey in accordance with the published procurement documents.
"There seems to be an inaccurate narrative being purported about the process. We didn’t break away from the process, we followed it throughout and a preferred bidder needed to be selected. We delivered the certainty our island deserves and only did so after giving Jersey two weeks’ notice of our intention following the closure of the scoring by both islands."
Pictured: Jersey seems no closer to securing their own ferry service contract for next year onwards.
Just this morning it was confirmed that Condor has refused Jersey's offer to extend its current ferry contract by seven months.
The island's Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel broke the news to Jersey's States Assembly earlier today, where he confirmed that a new contract will start at the end of March 2025 with the preferred bidder to be announced "within the next month".
The seven-month offer had been extended to Brittany Ferries – the majority shareholder of Condor Ferries – last week.
It came after Guernsey’s States announced its preferred bid was Brittany Ferries and not DFDS, the Danish ferry provider.
Jersey has said it needs more time to make its decision - now extending its own deadline again.
Jersey asks Condor to stay for seven more months
Condor: Did other ferry bidders plan to use our boats?
Jersey's government received "additional legal advice"
Ferry contract: Why Guernsey has picked Brittany Ferries
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.