THE troubled process to decide the future of Jersey’s passenger and freight ferry services was called into question on Tuesday as Jersey’s Economic Development Minister faced scrutiny over the saga – which is yet to reach its conclusion.
Deputy Kirsten Morel told the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel on Tuesday 19 November that he was still trying to secure “the best ferry services for Jersey”.
Scrutineers had hoped the hearing would provide some “transparency” about the complications that have delayed a decision on whether incumbent operator Condor Ferries or Danish shipping giant DFDS would be awarded the new 15-year contract.
The process has included the collapse of an initial pan-island project, after Guernsey revealed it did not want to wait any longer and decided to appoint Brittany Ferries – Condor’s majority owner – as its preferred operator.
Deputy Morel told the States Assembly last week that ministers had decided to embark on a new “short and simple” process to confirm the future service operator for Jersey.
He yesterday told the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel that a decision is now expected by the first week of December.
Panel member Deputy Geoff Southern asked Deputy Morel when he had first noticed the original tender process had started “going wrong”.
Deputy Morel cited Guernsey’s unilateral decision and subsequent announcement, claiming that Jersey had been left with “no room for discussion”.
He continued: “It was that moment when I realised there could be a problem here.
“I had no recommendation from officers at that time, but I did know that Guernsey had gone ahead and made a decision.”
Another panel member, Deputy Max Andrews, asked why Jersey was yet to select an operator.
Deputy Morel said that, despite the elimination of DFDS in the initial process – which he had previously told the Assembly was due to a “technical legal point” – there had still been “many, many questions” outstanding in relation to Condor.
This, he explained, included “significant concerns” about the company’s finances, as well as a need for clarity over who would be “signing the contract” – Brittany Ferries or Condor.
The removal of the Economy Department’s chief officer, Richard Corrigan, from the selection process – after the government confirmed he had indicated a preference for DFDS in a public Facebook poll by “mistake” – was also mentioned during the hearing.
Deputy Morel noted that Mr Corrigan had “removed himself” from the process and that subsequent media coverage had shown it was “the right thing to do”.
Providing information about the new tender process, Andy Scate – who replaced Mr Corrigan as senior reporting officer – said that both DFDS and Condor had been informed “as to where our issues had been” and that an “independent third-party evaluator” had also been brought in to help.
Deputy Morel told the panel that he was “completely open” to either Condor or DFDS winning the new selection process and simply wanted “the best ferry services for Jersey”.
