Alderney ferry contract up for grabs

Sunday 18 December 2022

Alderney is looking for a new ferry operator to run its inter-island service to and from Guernsey next year.

The States of Alderney says it is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for a seasonal ferry service between the Island and Guernsey next year.

The ferry service initially started as an 11-week trial in the summer of 2018, with The Little Ferry Service launching with a States grant of a £77,000.

The initial service saw two sailings a day between Alderney and Guernsey during the summer months.

During the pandemic inter-island travel between the islands buoyed tourism in Alderney, with summer 2022 then seeing two ferry firms running services between St Peter Port and Braye.

The Salty Blonde and Alderney Ferry Service ran sailings through this summer, despite problems with both firm's vessels earlier in the season.

Now, the opportunity is open to ferry service providers with vessels of up to 12-passenger capacity to operate the Guernsey-Alderney route next year - specifically between the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May until the end of September. Alderney would give the successful applicant an option to extend to 2024, subject to review by both parties.

The tender process recommends a minimum service for the Alderney-Guernsey route, that would involve at least two rotations daily, operating for a minimum of five days per week including Fridays and Sundays to facilitate overnight visits to Alderney.

Any EOIs will need to include vessel details such as passenger capacity, timetable and frequency, fare structure and the subsidy required to operate the service.

Closing date for submissions is January 9 2023.

Information about Alderney Harbour and marine legislation compliance is available from the Harbour Office while interested ferry operators are asked to contact Project Support Officer Jamie Laband.