Inder 'disappointed' different ferry firms chosen

Deputy Neil Inder said inter-island political relationships remained "friendly" despite not reaching a joint agreement

The Guernsey politician who led the ferry tender process said while he was "disappointed" Guernsey and Jersey did not reach an agreement on a single ferry provider, he would not have done anything differently.

Deputy Neil Inder, Economic Development President, was answering questions at a scrutiny hearing about Guernsey's ferry tender process, which began as a joint process between the two islands.

He said the committee "hadn't envisioned" choosing a single island service and the decision to select Brittany Ferries had happened within a week.

Boat ownership 'played no role'

Key players in Guernsey's side of the ferry tender process have been questioned by the States' Scrutiny Management Committee.

Deputy Neil Inder said he had seen speculation on social media about whether or not the States of Guernsey's part-ownership of the Condor Islander had impacted the decision.

"I've confirmed in writing three times now that the ownership of the Islander played no role whatsoever in our committee's decision-making. None whatsoever.

"We never discussed it. It wasn't in any other side conversation we all had a coffee over. It just didn't exist."

Inder said if the committee had chosen DFDS to run its lifeline sealinks, the Islander would have been kept as a surplus vessel.

The scrutiny hearing was arranged after the islands chose different ferry providers

Inter-island 'optional, not lifeline'

The Scrutiny Management Committee asked whether the economic impact of the loss of frequency on the inter-island route had been analysed, as Brittany Ferries is currently scheduling just one trip a week to Jersey.

DFDS has not yet released its schedule.

Deputy Inder said the committee "hadn't yet got into" the financial implications of a reduced inter-island schedule but that both islands were "determined to get into a better position".

He said Brittany Ferries could drop into Jersey harbours more than once a week, but it depends on an agreement of "mutuality", meaning Jersey would have to agree and match its schedule.

He said we would not know how often DFDS plans to schedule boats to and from Guernsey until January.