THE government has funded the cost of berthing trials for one of the operators bidding to take over Channel Islands’ ferry services, the JEP can reveal.
But the government is not disclosing the cost due to “commercial interests”.
Danish operator DFDS, one of three companies seeking to win the contract for services to Jersey and Guernsey from spring 2025, has been paid for the trials which have been carried out to “ensure supply chain resilience” with three of its vessels, the latest of which arrived in the Harbour yesterday.
Responding to a Freedom of Information request, the Economy Department has confirmed that costs for the recent trials by the Finlandia Seaways and Seven Sisters vessels had been met, and that funding would also be provided for this week’s visit by the cargo ship Mistral.
But the exact amount of the funding provided has not been disclosed, with the response stating that disclosing such information would be “prejudicial” to both DFDS and Jersey’s government.
This newspaper plans to appeal the FoI response.
The current contract for Condor Ferries is due to finish on 27 March, with Condor’s new owner Brittany Ferries one of the three rival bidders for the new contract, along with DFDS and Irish Ferries. The outcome of the tender process is expected to be revealed before the end of October.
The Freedom of Information response said the payments had been authorised by the chief officer of the Economy Department, Richard Corrigan, in support of Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel.
The department said: “The berthing trials for [these] vessels have been requested by the Government of Jersey and are consistent with [our] responsibility to ensure resilience of the Island’s supply chain.
“Disclosure of the requested information [about the exact amounts paid] would likely prejudice the commercial interests of the parties involved, as well the Government of Jersey. It would further prejudice the economic or financial interests of the Government of Jersey.”
Mistral, a 153-metre long steel cargo ship built in 1999 and registered in Finland, carried out berthing trials in St Peter Port yesterday morning after sailing from Portsmouth. The ship subsequently made the crossing to Jersey, arriving at the Harbour at around 1.30pm.
Although it is around nine metres shorter than Finlandia Seaways, Mistral is 11 metres longer than Seven Sisters, and 25 to 30 metres longer than three of Condor’s most commonly used boats, Commodore Clipper, Commodore Goodwill and Condor Islander.
Brittany Ferries, which has suggested larger vessels could be used in the islands as part of its bid for the contract, carried out berthing trials with the 151-metre Bretagne in May.
Jersey’s government has indicated that no payment has been made to Brittany Ferries for its sea trials, with these being undertaken as part of Condor’s own responsibility. No trials have been conducted by Irish Ferries.
Confirmation has been sought regarding whether Jersey and Guernsey’s governments are on track to announce the winning bidder before the end of October.
