Guernsey States refuses to deny Condor part-purchase talks

The company has referred to a "temporary but challenging time", but does not expect services to be hit

Guernsey's States is refusing to deny it is in talks with Condor Ferries to secure the island's sea links.

The BBC understands the Civil Contingencies Authority (CCA) - the States' emergency body - has been speaking with the firm.

Last week, Condor Ferries CEO John Napton said it was working with stakeholders to overcome a "temporary but challenging time".

Sources said the States was examining if it could run a ferry itself.

Commercial agreements

A joint statement from the States of Guernsey and Jersey said: "Condor has an operating agreement with Jersey, and a memorandum of understanding with Guernsey, to provide ferry services until 2025, and those agreements are still in effect."

It added: "Both governments have numerous commercial agreements in place with a wide range of businesses, and neither government would comment publicly on any of those commercial matters."

Earlier this year, the States invested in a partnership with the ferry firm to buy the Condor Islander.

This has joined the firm's four other vessels in providing freight and passenger services between Guernsey, Jersey, Poole, Portsmouth and St Malo.

John Napton said last week the company was confident its challenging time was "very near to being resolved"

Deputy Peter Ferbrache, who until last week held the highest political role in the island, negotiated that partnership and has offered to be an advisor on the CCA during any discussions.

As part of contingency planning, the States of Guernsey and Jersey brought the 535ft (163m) DFDS Finlandia Seaways over for berthing trials.

In a joint statement, the islands' governments said the exercise strengthened the islands' resilience.

They said: "The successful entry, berthing and exit from the ports in St Helier and St Peter Port confirmed the viability of a vessel of this type as a further option for contingency planning purposes, and helped to inform the circumstances and measures that would be required in order to enable this option."

When leaving St Peter Port Harbour, the vessel made contact with the harbour wall.

Yan Milner, managing director of Isle of Sark Shipping and former freight director at Condor Ferries, said: "This vessel was a bit long, it's 100ft [30m] longer than the [Commodore] Clipper; and, if you get any bad weather in the harbour, manoeuvring the vessel may be challenging."

He added "the sort of accepted maximum length is about 130-135m [426-433ft] both here and Jersey".

Paint could be seen on the harbour entrance after the berthing trials

David Piesing, a Guernsey sports commissioner, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he thought subsidising sea links was a good idea.

He said: "Can't help thinking that if it cost us £10m a year to subsidise a ferry service to secure our lifeline sea route then it would be money well spent as an insurance policy, a bit like [States-owned airline] Aurigny."

"We can't survive without secure air and sea links. That security comes at a price."

Guernsey's government has stepped in to buy ships before. In 2008, it bought two vessels to protect fuel supplies to the island.

The purchase was made by the Emergency Powers Authority, a precursor to the CCA.

The move was signed off by current Policy and Resources President Lyndon Trott, who was chief minister at the time.

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