Despite strong booking numbers for Brittany Ferries’ weekly Guernsey-Jersey service, the absence of a confirmed reciprocal service from Jersey’s operator is starting to cause concern.
More than 3,000 bookings have been made for the Brittany Ferries sailings, highlighting demand says the Economic Development Committee.
But the States of Guernsey has also claimed that DFDS has prioritised its core UK and France routes, leaving Guernsey and Brittany Ferries without concrete proposals for a return inter-island service.
“So far, there have been no formal proposals offered by the Government of Jersey, or DFDS received either by the States of Guernsey, or Brittany Ferries of how a proposed service will operate, with DFDS making clear that their focus at the current time is deliver their core service provisions to Jersey from the UK and France,” said ED.
“In the absence of any formal proposal, it is therefore impossible, to agree to any potential service, and we continue to wait to see the details from DFDS of what a reciprocal inter- island car-and-passenger service to match that being operated and committed to by Brittany Ferries, may look like.”
The Committee for Economic Development welcomed the public’s planned usage of the service, and said, “it was keen to ensure this part of the market is still properly serviced, despite each island moving forwards with different operators”.
Deputy Neil Inder is the President of the Committee for Economic Development.
He has reiterated that his committee is waiting for movement from Jersey on a reciprocal inter-island service.
“I am extremely pleased to see the forward bookings on Brittany Ferries’ inter-island sailings, as we knew inter-island connectivity is socially and economically important and needed to be resolved as soon as possible as the two islands went with different ferry operators,” he said.
“The very positive uptake in bookings is demonstrative of the importance of this service and we have been keen to ensure that inter-island travel works for our respective communities. It is for this reason that the Committee for Economic Development has approved funding in support of the new startup operator ‘Islands Unlimited’ for this summer, and I look forward to this new service in starting up its sea passenger services.
“In the meantime, I continue to wait to receive any clarity from Jersey on exactly what their proposed reciprocal inter-island service will be, including what days and times they propose to sail, and when tickets will be available to book”.
Part of that inter-island service will be provided by Islands Unlimited.
The private company is due to start sailing at the end of May with its booking system now live.
Managing Director, Chad Murray said: “We have been delighted with all of the enquiries about our service, which shows really promising up-take for this coming season.
“We would like to thank everyone for their enquires and patience whilst we go through the final stages of testing and confirming arrangements with stakeholders in both islands”.