“AGEING” harbour infrastructure has been identified as one of the weak links in the Island’s supply chain.
Potential issues regarding Jersey’s long-term ability to handle freight were highlighted in a report by the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel.
The report considered evidence gathered in 2023 as part of a review of the Island’s supply-chain resilience – and includes several recommendations.
The panel has suggested that the government should ensure the replenishment of supplies for “essential goods such as foods, medicines and fuels” are considered within a new Civil Contingencies Law currently being produced.
A number of potential issues were documented in the report, including the Island’s susceptibility to weather-related freight disruption and its “limited” warehousing and stockpiling capabilities.
Additionally, it stated: “Ports of Jersey have identified that the lack of capacity at the Harbour coupled with ageing port infrastructure are the greatest challenges to it performing its role in the supply chain and that the current Harbour infrastructure is in urgent need of investment to ensure its resilience and to provide capacity and flexibility to meet the Island’s requirements over the coming decades.”
Citing independent research carried out by Fisher Associates for the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority, the report also noted the potential for “significant disruption” to so-called roll-on roll-off freight services “should even one of the ramps at Elizabeth Harbour become unusable”.
It added that “it would not be inconceivable for both to be damaged should a vessel strike them”.
It has been well over a year since Ports unveiled a long-term development plan for the Harbour, which includes a major overhaul of how current freight activities are handled, as well as a complete redesign of the ferry terminal.
A Ports spokesperson said: “We are pleased that the importance of the redevelopment of Elizabeth Harbour as critical island infrastructure has been picked up by the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel.”
The spokesperson added: “The submitted plans, which we hope will be determined soon, create the capacity for, and enable the efficient handling of, freight that Jersey needs into the future, as well as providing a much-improved passenger experience.”
Deputy Montfort Tadier, who chairs the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, said the Island’s supply chain needed to be examined “holistically”, but acknowledged that “how we get things on and off boats is part of that”.
“The report is quite clear about the need for infrastructure to be modern and fit for purpose,” he added, noting that Jersey was “always going to be reliant on sea freight”.
However, Deputy Tadier also pointed out that the stockpiling of key supplies was “really important”.
