MINISTERS have proposed extending Condor Ferries’ contract until late October in the face of mounting anger over government “indecision” about who will run the Island’s ferry services for the next 15 years.
The government’s “invitation” to Condor – it remained unclear as this newspaper went to print whether the company has accepted the offer – came as hospitality and tourism representatives said they had “lost faith” over the continued “debacle” about whether bidders Brittany Ferries, Condor’s owner, or Danish company DFDS would be picked for the long-term lifeline contract.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel issued a statement just after 4.30pm yesterday, saying: “In the interests of the public, the hospitality industry, and to protect our economy, we have invited Condor Ferries to confirm a seven-month extension to the current operating agreement. This will bring certainty by enabling Condor Ferries to publish its summer schedules.
“Following the breakdown of the joint Channel Islands tender process, we have invited both final bidders, DFDS and Brittany Ferries, to work with the Government of Jersey as we find the best solution for our long-term ferry services.”
After more than nine months spent working collaboratively on the new ferry deal linking the islands to France and the south of England, Guernsey made a unilateral announcement last Wednesday that Brittany Ferries was its preferred choice for the 15-year contract. Brittany Ferries had been competing with DFDS in what became a two-way battle after Irish Ferries dropped out of the running after showing initial interest.
Deputy Morel’s announcement came after the Jersey Hospitality Association wrote to Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham to say the organisation was “shocked and disappointed by the indecision and, at times, incompetence displayed so far by the government and some of its officers during the ferry tendering process”.
In the strongly-worded letter – seen by the JEP – JHA chair Malcolm Lewis said that with tour operators having no certainty about schedules from April onwards, many had already taken their business elsewhere.
He wrote: “One member [of the association] has lost four large school groups who had been unable to book travel next year.
“This is just one example of the damage that is unfolding – no doubt you will have heard of other instances where significant business losses are the result of this situation.”
Mr Lewis went on: “This debacle can only reinforce a widely held view that there is no longer any faith in the decision-making process, and from my perspective, that this industry is not supported by the Government of Jersey.”
He added that “serious business damage” to Jersey’s relationships with Guernsey and France was likely to result from the process; he also said that this attitude left him “flabbergasted”.
Guernsey confirmed on Tuesday that it was evaluating a “Guernsey-only” approach from Brittany Ferries with the intention of finalising a contract with the provider before the end of the month.
Deputy Neil Inder, President of the Island’s Committee for Economic Development, said Guernsey’s choice of Brittany Ferries as its preferred bidder had been communicated to Jersey on 17 October, almost two weeks before the decision was made public on the evening of 30 October.
JHA chief executive Marcus Calvani also criticised Jersey’s government.
“This hasn’t been a very clear, transparent or professional-looking situation,” he told the JEP. “I understand it’s important to make the correct choice, but why have we got beyond the finish line without a decision? Who’s being held accountable?”
While saying there was still time for independent travellers to arrange spring and summer trips to Jersey next year, Mr Calvani said it was too late to expect business from some tour operators.
“For group bookings, in many cases we’ve missed the cut-off,” he said. “This year wasn’t great because quite a lot of the schedules changed, and now we’re heading into 2025, which is shaping up as a complete write-off disaster.”
While yesterday’s decision may provide some certainty over ferry links next spring and summer, longer-term issues remain – with the original intention having been to award a joint contract for both islands running until 2040.
Deputy Morel said: “Following the breakdown of the joint Channel Islands tender process, we have invited both final bidders, DFDS and Brittany Ferries, to work with the Government of Jersey as we find the best solution for our long-term ferry services.”
The JEP has asked the Economy Department to confirm when it received notification of Guernsey’s decision about Brittany Ferries.
