Plans put forward for inter-island ferry services

Islands Unlmited said it had been speaking to both islands' governments about inter-island sealinks for the last six months

A Guernsey company has called for government support to help it launch an inter-island ferry service.

Islands Unlimited has said it is ready to run a 200-passenger boat from May next year between Guernsey and Jersey.

It follows the decision by Jersey and Guernsey's governments to choose different ferry firms to operate its sea links for the next 15 years.

From the end of March next year, there is currently only one inter-island service each week under Guernsey's contract with Brittany Ferries.

Jersey's preferred bidder DFDS has announced its timetable will be out at the end of this week.

In a statement to the media the business stated the future of inter-island sealinks looked "bleak" in 2025.

'Great opportunity'

Islands Unlimited's operations director Chad Murray said the company first offered to provide inter-island ferry services in May.

He said it would bring "economic and social benefits" to the islands and it aligns and supports the various strategies of government.

"At the time, this was met with some reluctance from certain areas. However, we remain ready and waiting to mobilise the vessel and publish our schedule, should we manage to get the right level of government support", he added.

Islands Unlimited said it intended to offer a "200-passenger high speed catamaran" which would provide daily services between Guernsey and Jersey, as well as incorporating services between Jersey, Sark and Alderney on certain days of the week.

Mr Murray added: "We accept that the recent ferry tender process has occupied a lot of government's time but this has now been resolved, with the exception of inter-island travel.

"We offered a solution back in May and this offer remains on the table."