According to a statement from Brittany Ferries, Mr Roué “expressed surprise and concern” that the Condor-Brittany Ferries bid had not been accepted by Jersey despite a “clear decision by Guernsey” following the nine-month tender process.
Mr Roué also confirmed the company will respond to a new Jersey-only bid process.
Pictured: DFDS are competing against Condor for the island’s freight and passenger ferry services.
It emerged last week that Condor had refused the Government’s offer to extend its current ferry contract by seven months.
Announcing that the Council of Ministers had voted to embark on a new “rapid” process to confirm the new ferry service, Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel spent time outlining the financial difficulties that Condor Ferries is currently facing in last week’s States sitting.
He described the incumbent company as “distressed”, and said that there was no guarantee from majority shareholder Brittany Ferries on how to protect Condor and ensure the vessels stay safe, were they to fall into administration.
Deputy Morel also revealed that, last year, he received “two requests for financial support from Condor Ferries – the first was for an 80 million euro guarantee and the second for 40 million euros, with 10 million needed urgently”.
“Condor’s insolvency was ultimately prevented without the need for public funds from Jersey but we decided, with Guernsey, to protect our lifeline services by engaging contingency at a cost so far, of approximately £3million to each island,” he said.
He further explained that he had been told Condor would likely need funding of up to £36m from the Government of Jersey “to see out its contractual obligations”.
Pictured: Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel described Condor Ferries as “distressed” in the States Assembly last week.
Mr Roué today said that he had no option but to respond to “damaging comments” made in the States Assembly last week.
In a letter, the Brittany Ferries chair said: “The company I chair exists because its only guide is customer satisfaction.
“The financial benefits of our activities are totally reinvested in the company.
“For example, we are in the middle of the largest fleet renewal process in our history with five new-generation ships, including two powered by cleaner hybrid LNG-electric technology.”
Mr Roué also pointed to the fact that the Breton farming community has been Brittany Ferries’ majority shareholders since the company’s inception in 1972.
He added: “I should also point out that never in our 52 year history have we abandoned a ferry line or a service to a region for lack of profitability.
“Our farmer-shareholders are responsible and are proud to be partners with the two major French regions of Brittany and Normandy.
“We are a highly-respected company and we entered this competition in good faith to continue our service to islanders.”
Deputy Morel will also face questions from the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, chaired by Deputy Montfort Tadier, at 15:30 today.
Deputy Tadier had previously stated it was “important that the public are able to have confidence in the process” and stressed the need for “formal retrospective scrutiny”.
Pictured: Deputy Montfort Tadier chairs the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel.
Speaking to the Express yesterday afternoon, Deputy Tadier said: “We would like to ask whether we can have confidence in the process that’s now going on.”
The public can attend the hearing in the Blampied Room of the States Building or watch the online stream.
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