GUERNSEY’S government is to evaluate a “Guernsey-only” approach with preferred operator Brittany Ferries over the next week and is to finalise a contract with the ferry firm before the end of the month.
Meanwhile, ministers in Jersey yesterday had yet to announce a decision on whether Danish shipping giant DFDS or Brittany Ferries, which owns incumbent operator Condor, would provide ferry services to Islanders for the next 15 years.
A joint Channel Islands decision was expected by October, but in a shock move last week Guernsey announced Brittany Ferries as its choice.
Since then politicians in Jersey have been locked in crunch talks about whether the Island should follow suit or go its own way.
In a statement issued yesterday, Guernsey’s Committee for Economic Development said they would evaluate a “Guernsey-only” approach with Brittany Ferries.
This would enable Brittany Ferries to publish schedules in mid-November, the committee said.
Committee president Deputy Neil Inder said: “The committee and its officers are in regular contact with service users and with Brittany Ferries as we seek to finalise the contractual arrangements and as Brittany Ferries seeks to finalise the schedules.
“There is also ongoing conversation with the Government of Jersey, although at this stage they have not confirmed their plans.”
He added: “Regardless of the decision that the Government of Jersey reaches, we have committed that should we take different approaches we will work together to put in place a robust inter-island service, building on the recent joint agreement with Manches-Iles-Express.
“The partnership with Brittany Ferries also provides opportunities to further develop our community and commercial relationships with Normandy and Brittany, and we are about to begin conversations with them and also with trade bodies on maximising the benefits of the new approach.”
