TALKS have taken place between the government and the banks lending money to Brittany Ferries as part of ongoing attempts to finalise Jersey’s future ferry services, the Chief Minister has confirmed.
During a series of questions to ministers without notice in the States Assembly yesterday, Deputy Lyndon Farnham said ministers had held discussions with rival bidders DFDS and Brittany Ferries, as well as the group which had given loans to the latter business.
The Chief Minister’s comments came amid continuing concern over the financial difficulties facing current operator Condor.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel was asked by Deputy Inna Gardiner about the significance of Jersey signing a contract with Condor, or with its parent company, Brittany Ferries. “As the minister making the decision I need to make sure that where there is a situation that one party enters administration, and their vessels enter with it, if there’s a different counter-party signing [the contract] that they will be able to maintain services – that’s very important,” he said.
Deputy Morel said he could not yet state with certainty whether the bid for the Jersey-only service would be made by Brittany Ferries, or Condor, as he was waiting for final documentation to be submitted within 36 hours.
The Economic Development Minister was also asked if a requirement for a service to Guernsey was part of the current tender process.
Deputy Morel said it was not a requirement, but added: “The minimum service requirements are very much about the Jersey-UK and Jersey-French routes. The tender is about the Jersey-only service, but it’s absolutely understood that the winning tenderer, whichever of the parties is the winning tenderer, would likely want to provide services to Guernsey.
“The tender does not ask about services to Guernsey, but services to Guernsey would be something that would be added on afterwards by either party.”
Although it was possible that a decision on which company had been selected could be announced by the end of this week, Deputy Morel said he felt that next week would be more likely.
Deputy Montfort Tadier focused on the safety records of the rival bidders, asking whether these formed part of the tender process.
Deputy Morel said that safety records could form part of the “political discussion” that would take place before an announcement was made.
Deputy Farnham later confirmed that government chief executive Dr Andrew McLaughlin, who – it was announced yesterday – has been confirmed in his role until the end of 2026, had not been part of the ferry negotiations due to the involvement of his former employer NatWest as one of the parties with a financial connection to Condor Ferries.
