“CONTINGENCY” arrangements involving standby freight vessels funded by Jersey and Guernsey can be extended if needed, States Members were told yesterday.
But Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel also said that any future ferry contract the Island entered into should “deliver a service whereby we do not need to maintain contingency vessels”.
It recently emerged that, since January, Jersey and Guernsey have collectively been spending up to £700,000 each month to have two freight vessels on standby.
Deputy Morel yesterday said that the “contingency arrangement”, which is in place until December, was sought to protect lifeline freight services in the wake of concerns around Condor’s financial situation and whether the company might collapse.
He confirmed that the standby service was being provided by Danish shipping firm DFDS, which is the operator currently competing with Condor for the ferry contract.
“They [DFDS] have chartered two vessels, which remain on 48-hour cool-down standby to the islands in the event that they are needed,” Deputy Morel explained. “There has been no problem in maintaining the continuation of those services, and should we desire to continue the contingency arrangements, I have no reason to doubt that we would be able to do so, as long as we give appropriate notice.”
He added: “If we did need to maintain contingency vessels, then I would suggest it was not a contract that we should enter into.”
