‘We are always thinking of out-of-the-box solutions’

Channel Seaways owner and managing director Bruno Kay-Mouat introduces the firm and talks about the challenges facing the industry

• Tell us about your background and role at Channel Seaways

I was born in France and lived in Alderney until I was nine. I then went to boarding school in Jersey before studying maritime studies at Liverpool Polytechnic.

I am a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and a fully qualified boat spotter. As managing director of Channel Seaways, I divide my time across all Channel Islands, ensuring that we maintain the highest standards and service levels for our customers. We are always thinking of out-of-the-box ideas and alternative solutions to protect imports and exports for each island.

As true Islanders, when we are not at work, my wife and I enjoy sea swimming, come rain or shine. We love to keep busy and enjoy everything island life offers, as well as travelling together.

• Why shipping? What got you into this industry?

My father was a lawyer and when I asked him why he hadn’t encouraged me to do the same, he told me it was because I was too stupid. Subsequently, I have been in shipping now for 34 years. As well as being a lawyer, my father owned a shipping company which helped my career prospects, as no one else would employ me.

• What is the strangest thing you have ever shipped?

When looking back over the years, I have been involved in many fun and odd shipments. Among these have been 500 tonnes of Cold War armaments, a couple of llamas, fully grown trees and numerous goldfish.

However, my most unusual experience came when I was agenting for a cruise ship and was sent to locate the false teeth of a passenger, who had been escorted to hospital. We did find his teeth and got them to him safely.

• What is the greatest challenge the industry is facing in the Channel Islands and what are Channel Seaways doing to combat this?

I believe the greatest challenge we face is the effect that shipping is having on the environment and trying to find ways to modify and change how we do things, so that we can improve our carbon footprint.

To do this at Channel Seaways, we are investing in more efficient vehicles and adjusting our vessels’ schedules to maximise our routes. We are also investigating alternative fuels and their production and, more importantly to Jersey, we export a high amount of recyclable aggregates off the Island.

• How has shipping changed over the past 20 years and how have Channel Seaways adapted to move with this change?

From our point of view, the biggest change has been growth. We have moved from a vessel which could hold 26 containers to one which accommodated 75 containers, right up to the present day, where we have a vessel that can carry up to 120 containers.

In the past 20 years, we have seen a number of our competitors fall by the wayside, which is sad but confirms our resilience and ability to change with the times.

In addition to the size of the vessels, we have had to adapt by making some large investments in assets and equipment, such as new containers and flatbeds direct from China. Another area of growth is our agency handle, which now manages the majority of cruise ships across the Channel Islands.

We have also been involved in many projects across the islands, and are the principal agent for the offshore wind farm project off Saint-Brieuc. We were instrumental in bringing the wind farm to Jersey and ensuring the smooth operation with associated cargoes.

Most importantly, we have invested heavily in our people, not only with training and upskilling but also their welfare. We manage four sites across four jurisdictions and can only do this with a highly dedicated workforce who have extreme knowledge and expertise.

• What is your vision for Channel Seaways over the next three years?

My vision for Channel Seaways is very simple. We will keep upgrading our equipment, techniques and technology to ensure we continue to provide an exceptional shipping experience for our customers. We also intend to use AI to try to engage with the future generations.

• What are Channel Seaways’ strengths and why should people ship with you?

We prioritise customer care, aiming to enhance customers’ shipping experiences by delivering hassle-free solutions. As we are locally owned, and the only independent shipping company in the Channel Islands, we like to give back to the community. We are all about what is best for the customer and the best for the Channel Islands and, as our advert says, “we are the nice guys”.

• If there is one message you want to deliver from this article, what would it be?

The biggest takeaway for me is letting the Jersey people know that we are here, providing a seamless service to the Island. We have capacity to grow and are looking for local businesses, however big or small, to reach out and see what we can offer. I also want to deliver a message to our existing customers that we are going from strength to strength in 2024 and are always here to support any further shipping needs, so give us a try.