Condor 'disappointed' by contract extension offer

On Wednesday, the Government of Jersey requested an extension of its contract with Condor

The head of Brittany Ferries and Condor Ferries says he is "surprised and disappointed" with Jersey government's request for a Condor contract extension amid the tender process.

Brittany Ferries, the majority shareholder in Condor, and DFDS had been invited to tender for providing freight and passenger services in both Jersey and Guernsey until 2040.

Guernsey has already chosen Brittany Ferries, but on Wednesday the Government of Jersey requested a seven-month extension with a view to delivering the decision on the long-term ferry contract by the end of the year.

On Wednesday, Deputy Kirsten Morel, who is overseeing the tender process for Jersey, said the extension would "protect our economy" and enable Condor to publish its summer schedules.

The DFDS chief said he needed to know what the terms of the extension request were before he commented

Christophe Mathieu, chief executive officer of Brittany Ferries and Condor Ferries, said over the past nine months the firm had invested "considerable resources" in the tender process which he believed was "comprehensive and sufficient" for Jersey to make a decision.

Mr Mathieu said: “Following media reports yesterday that the Government of Jersey plans to launch a new tender and has requested a short-term extension of our current operating agreement, Brittany Ferries is both surprised and disappointed by this development."

He said the firm had not received a formal notification from Jersey’s government and clarification on the request for extension was needed, together with "precise details" of the new Jersey-only tender.

"Brittany Ferries has also written to both governments asking for further clarification on key aspects of the current process as a matter of urgency,” he added.

'Please trust me'

Morel asked islanders to "please trust me".

He said: "I am in a difficult position. I need to find financially resilient ferry services for our island.

"That financial resilience is all about being able to invest in a new fleet and being able to continue for the 15 years of the contract."

When asked for comment on the government's request to Condor for an extension, DFDS vice-president Filip Werne Hermann said: "We need to understand on what terms the short-term deal has been offered to Condor before DFDS will comment further."