Boat owners hand in petition over mooring fees

People gathered outside the States of Guernsey meeting

Boat owners have handed in a petition against increases to mooring fees in Guernsey.

Nick Guillemette, president of the Guernsey Boat Owners Association, said about 1,200 boat owners, marine traders and supporters had signed the petition since July.

It was written in response to increases in mooring fees in recent years, and proposed rises to the fees in 2025 and 2026.

After the petition was started, Deputy Peter Roffey, President of States' Trading and Supervisory Board (STSB), agreed to meet with boat owners to set the fees for the next five years, which Mr Guillemette said gave them "a sense of stability to calm things down".

'Bonkers'

Earlier, 13 boat owners gathered outside Guernsey's Royal Court.

Speaking outside the court, he said people were worried about whether they could afford to keep their boats.

Despite meeting with Guernsey Ports and discussions with the STSB, he said "we weren't going to let it go just like that".

Peter Lloyd, Commodore of the Royal Channel Island Yacht Club, said the proposed increases were "bonkers".

"We're hoping to get the deputies to recognise that increasing the fees by extortionate amounts is a very dangerous idea, because it'll throw away the good work we've done here, and boat owners will leave," he said.