GUERNSEY has announced their preferred bid for the ferry contract as Brittany Ferries.
The island’s Committee for Economic Development unanimously selected the company – which owns current operator Condor Ferries – to “provide certainty for island residents and businesses”.
Brittany Ferries is vying with Danish firm DFDS for the contract.
Jersey’s government released a statement shortly after the announcement saying they plan to meet with both bidders within 24 hours as there are “further questions that need to be answered”.
The full statement from Guernsey’s government said the appointment was “subject to further negotiations on some elements of the contract” and came after “careful and thorough consideration of all bids”.
It added: “The committee’s view was that Brittany Ferries were able to provide full assurance that they had access to a suitable fleet and would be able to begin operations immediately and seamlessly, with the summer schedule ready to be published shortly.
“This means that Brittany Ferries will provide the island’s lifeline sea links, freight services and passenger services, using its management and infrastructure as well as deploying Condor’s current fleet.”
Final contract negotiations will now take place with the expectation that a formal agreement will be reached in November, the statement added.
It concluded that Guernsey’s preference remains a “shared pan Channel Island service with Jersey”, but “we await word from our Jersey partners; expected tomorrow”.
Deputy Neil Inder, president of the Committee for Economic Development, said: “At this stage Guernsey and Jersey have not reached a shared view on how to proceed. That is not for me to comment on, and I understand political discussions in Jersey are ongoing. All I can say at this stage is that while both islands share common objectives, agreement has not yet been reached on the best way to jointly deliver those objectives.
“’The committee has not taken the decision to push ahead alone at this stage lightly, but following the objective evaluation process Brittany Ferries’ bid was successful and we are committed to providing certainty to islanders as soon as we were able to do so.”
He continued: “’An arrangement will be put in place with Brittany Ferries which leaves the door open for Jersey if Jersey does decide to seek a different approach.
He added that a Guernsey-only service from Brittany Ferries would result in a “new arrangement” that changed how some services operate.
A statement released by Jersey’s government said: “We recognise the importance of this decision for all Islanders as this is a 15-year contract for lifeline ferry services, and we are doing everything possible to ensure a swift conclusion. We’re planning to meet with both bidders in the next 24 hours, as we have further questions that need to be answered.”
