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Condor wants to start a "discussion" with harbour authorities over a plan that would allow it to run scheduled services using Brittany Ferries ships, its Interim boss has revealed as he pledged a "new era" for the embattled operator.
Christophe Mathieu, who is also the Chief Executive of Brittany Ferries, told Express this morning that larger vessels such as Barfleur – a 157-metre passenger ship – could be used as early as this winter if tug boat support could be agreed.
Barfleur is no stranger to the island, having successfully completed a berthing trial in Elizabeth Harbour at the end of March as part of explorations as to how the island can bolster its supply chain and freight links.
At the time, Mr Mathieu suggested that the vessel could be used to "step in" when needed, but that the local port facilities did "not allow" for a permanent service.
However, Mr Mathieu revealed today that the operators were now "seriously studying options for next winter" regarding the potential use of Brittany Ferries' ships.
Pictured: Barfleur, a 157-metre Brittany Ferries passenger ship, completed a successful berthing trial in March.
He continued: "But that's where the tug comes in, be it Barfleur or others – those around 140 or 150 metres – because when the weather and the wind blows there is a limit when the captains don't feel comfortable.
"That's where we need to talk to the harbour authorities because it's a big ask for us to acquire a tug, but there is a discussion to be had."
Mr Mathieu's comments come shortly after the race to decide the future of Jersey and Guernsey’s passenger and freight ferry services officially began with the launch of the formal tender process.
Both islands are now inviting bids from applicants “with the necessary experience and capability”, with a submission deadline of 8 July.
Mr Mathieu described the process as "a bit like the final of the World Cup".
Pictured: Condor's interim Chief Executive Christophe Mathieu is also the Chief Executive of Brittany Ferries.
"Providing the referee is fair, I have every confidence [we will win] because we have the ships, we have the knowledge and we have the people," he continued.
Condor will be hoping to beat Danish shipping company DFDS, which recently held open meetings in Jersey and Guernsey to gather feedback from a number of local businesses and other stakeholders.
As part of its pitch, the Danish operator has teased a hybrid-electric ferry for the Channel Islands.
Commenting on whether DFDS and Condor could compete alongside each other on the same routes, Mr Mathieu said: "It's tricky because the market is such that, at the end of the day, you need volumes to break even in this business – so I don't think it would last long.
"Sure, there could be a moment but one of the two would give up, or the States would have to organise it in a different way and subsidise.
"But I don't think there is enough [volume] for that to be a lasting proposition."
Ahead of taking up the top role at Condor following the abrupt departure of CEO John Napton, the operator had come under scrutiny for cancellations and customer services, as well as freight price hikes.
Reiterating that Brittany Ferries would be "far more involved" in future, he explained: "...It doesn't mean that Condor was not doing a good job, it means that we can do a better job and we can also develop more synergies that will be to the benefit of the islands."
One of the examples of that involvement came just hours after DFDS made its pitch to stakeholders in Jersey when Condor
Another, more recent, area of public focus has been Condor's finances, after its accounts showed a £1.4 million loss in 2022-2023, following a profit of more than £480,000 the previous year, and it extended a loan agreement with NatWest for the second time in seven months. In December, the previous CEO had spoken of a "temporary but challenging time".
Mr Mathieu added: "We acknowledged the fact that there was a difficult moment, but what everybody should be fully aware of is that we have a very strong understanding with the lenders of Condor of our common responsibilities going forward. We are permanently talking to them and they fully appreciate the importance of the service.
"Therefore, people don't have to worry about Condor not being in operation. We would not commit Brittany Ferries' name or reputation if we thought there was an iota of a possibility of something as dramatic as the ferry service to the island ceasing."
Summarising his position on the ferry tender battle, Mr Mathieu said: "I am confident, not arrogant, in what Brittany Ferries will bring... because this is a new era."
More to follow...
Condor “confident” it is the right operator for the Channel Islands
Brittany Ferries to be ‘more involved’ in Channel Islands
Process to decide future of Jersey's ferry services officially begins
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