States look for new inter-island ferry operator

Saturday 16 December 2017

Jersey and Guernsey have launched a tender process to find an operator for a new passenger-only ferry service between the islands, which would operate from the beginning of May to the end of September, starting from 2018.

The successful operator will provide day-trips between the islands for residents, tourists and commuters in a bid to deliver additional passenger numbers to both islands.

Both islands have said they are prepared to offer some kind of financial assistance, in the form of underwriting the new service.

Earlier this year, the governments of Jersey and Guernsey, through the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture and the Committee for Economic Development, sought expressions of interest from operators interested in providing this service.

Nine businesses capable of providing the service sent a submission. 

Senator Lyndon Farnham, the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, said: “It is essential that we improve the opportunity for islanders and visitors to travel between the islands as soon as possible and the strong level of interest at this stage bodes well for the successful establishment of a service next year. I would encourage all operators who have so far expressed an interest to submit a tender."

Deputy Charles Parkinson, President of the Committee for Economic Development in Guernsey, said: “The Committee was pleased to see such a positive
response to the expressions of interest for this service. It demonstrates that there is a clear desire from a range of operators to establish a viable and sustainable service. We know from the approaches we have had to the Committee that this is something that the public in both Guernsey and Jersey are very keen to see established."