Guernsey will be putting £150,000 towards a new company that has been set up by the island’s former Harbour Master to try and fill the gap in inter-island ferry services.
Islands Unlimited intends to start daily sailing between Guernsey and Jersey in June with an adult fare costing approximately £67.
Managing Director, Captain Chad Murray previously told Express that this foot passenger only service would fill some of the gap created when the islands joint ferry tender process broke down and Guernsey and Jersey went with different operators, neither of which are contractually obligated to sail between the two.
“We want to meet the needs of islanders, as well as visitors,” Captain Murray explained earlier this month.“Following stakeholder engagement, this offers the best fit for the communities, commuters, local business, sport and events, as well as offering great day-trips for visitors to support tourism.”
Captain Murray, who has vast experience in the maritime industry as both a commercial and private captain as well as being Guernsey’s former Harbour Master, has now been told that his firm will get £150,000 from the Committee for Economic Development in financial support for the new foot passenger service.
“The Islands Unlimited team are incredibly pleased to have financial support from the Committee for Economic Development which is demonstrative of the States’ commitment to enabling good connectivity,” he said.
“The Islands Unlimited Team are working hard to ensure that we can deliver on our published schedule in 2025, and we very much look forward to releasing further information when it becomes available about our services and welcoming you on board.”
Deputy Neil Inder, the President of ED said he and the committee are very grateful to other Guernsey investors who have also seen merit in supporting this “unique opportunity” to enable the new foot passenger service to launch.
“On behalf of the Committee, I am pleased to be able to offer financial support to Islands Unlimited as they continue to develop their business to offer sea passenger services between Guernsey and Jersey,” he said.
“Ensuring that there are various options and carriers to facilitate inter-island sea connectivity is increasingly important and Islands Unlimited proposal to bring into service a 200-seat capacity high speed vessel the summer presents the islands with a very exciting and much needed opportunity.”
Islands Unlimited published its summer timetable offering two Guernsey-Jersey return sailings on weekdays and three return sailings on weekends earlier this month.
The company is in the process of procuring a suitable vessel and hopes to deliver services for this summer season.
The Islands Unlimited service will be for foot passengers only.
A once per week sailing between Guernsey and Jersey for vehicles and passengers is scheduled to operate on Wednesdays as part of Brittany Ferries new schedules for Guernsey, the UK and St Malo.
DFDS has not yet included any inter-island services in its schedules for Jersey.