Government considers Guernsey-only ferry contract

Deputy Neil Inder said if Jersey chose a different ferry firm, the islands would work together to put a "robust" inter-island service in place

A Guernsey committee says it is looking at a "Guernsey-only approach" proposal from Brittany Ferries to run its sea links.

The States of Guernsey confirmed Brittany Ferries as its preferred bidder on 30 October, but Jersey's government has not yet made its decision.

The Committee for Economic Development said it would evaluate the Guernsey-only approach from Brittany Ferries and would finalise a contract in the next 10 days.

Deputy Neil Inder, the committee's president, said if Jersey chose DFDS over Brittany Ferries, the governments would put a "robust inter-island service" in place.

'We will work together'

He said: "There is also ongoing conversation with the Government of Jersey, although at this stage they have not confirmed their plans.

“Regardless of the decision that the Government of Jersey reaches, we have committed that should we take different approaches we will work together to put in place a robust inter-island service, building on the recent joint agreement with Manche Iles Express."

Jersey's Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, said the Government of Jersey was not in a position to say which ferry operator would be selected.

He said he was seeking "formal clarification" from the Government of Guernsey on whether the joint process would be brought to an end.

"We need to get the best ferry services for the island, that's what we're working towards," he added.

Inder said Guernsey's government was seeking to finalise the schedules with Brittany Ferries which would enable the ferry firm to publish them in mid-November.

The relationship with Brittany Ferries provided opportunities to further develop community and commercial relationships with Normandy and Brittany, he added.