Ferry company awaits response to latest Jersey bid

Brittany Ferries runs Condor, which is already due to run Guernsey's ferry service

Brittany Ferries has put forward its tender to the Jersey authorities for the island's ferry routes.

The company owns Condor, whose bosses' previous bid to run the service in Jersey was turned down by the government.

Condor has already published its timetable for Guernsey next year - but people and freight companies in Jersey are still waiting to see if it will win a new, shortened bidding process to operate in Jersey.

Christophe Matthieu, Brittany Ferries' chief executive, confirmed that the company had submitted its bid and was waiting to hear if it had been successful.

'Look forward'

Rival firms DFDS has also said it is in the running to operate the route.

Independent assessors would examine bids as part of the new streamlined Jersey-only process, Brittany Ferries said.

Their recommendation will be taken to the Council of Ministers for final sign-off within the coming week, it said.

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

Business leaders have criticised the delay in deciding on a new ferry contract for the Channel Islands.

Jersey's government said one reason for the delay was it needed to make sure the next operator was expected to be financially stable for the next 15 years.

Mr Mathieu said: "We all recognise what has gone before, and it has not been helpful or constructive, but I believe now is the time to look forward.

"We welcome the independence of the new process and trust those involved in it to make the right decision based on the merit of bids received."

He said schedules had already been agreed in Guernsey with "books open for travel in 2025".

But he said systems were "go" for a "joined-up approach that serves the needs of both islands".

"Everyone agrees that one operator serving mainland and intra-island services makes more sense than two, " he added.

Brittany Ferries said it would "continue to scrutinise carefully" the process.