Islands Unlimited pledges daily inter-island summer ferry service

Islands Unlimited has released its intended summer timetable, showing a commitment to daily passenger ferry services between Guernsey and Jersey.

The provisional timetable is not yet fully confirmed, with the operator still needing to have 'final discussions' with Ports of Jersey. 

If it gets the green light from the Jersey company, Islands Unlimited will offer four inter-island trips a day Monday - Friday, with a service departing from both Jersey and Guernsey in the morning and in the late afternoon/early evening. 

On the weekends, six ferry services are scheduled from June - September. 

We're told a standard adult return fare will be around £67, aboard the high speed catamaran vessel (which sports four engines) that Islands Unlimited want to make all of its trips. 

Chad Murray says while the ferry is not yet in the company's possession, it is closer than ever to making its plans a reality: 

"We're starting to get to the certainty we've been trying to achieve for many, many months now. We're able to share a generic weekly schedule, most likely starting in June this year because we are subject to delays trying to secure the vessel we want to operate.

"We'll be starting in June, initially for the summer months through to September, but we will be looking to provide an all year round service in the shoulder months but obviously with reduced frequency.

"The vessel we're intending to use is a 35-metre, 200 passenger high-speed catamaran. We're still in final discussions with her current owners at the moment, which is why we don't believe we'll be able to commence services until June."

There is currently only one weekly inter-island sailing confirmed under Guernsey's chosen operator Brittany Ferries. 

DFDS, the Danish company chosen to operate Jersey's routes from the end of March, has not confirmed any services on the Jersey - Guernsey route.

Islands Unlimited's Chad Murray says his company is hoping to fill this gap: 

"We've had a massive amount of communication (from islanders). There would appear to be significant frustration, particularly with people trying to organise things - like the sporting community.

"One of the things we have found is the unanimous message that people want the same options every week.

"People know now hopefully that when we deliver this service, that they can jump on a ship at seven in the morning out of Guernsey and be in Jersey for eight and they know that that can then jump on the ship at eight thirty and then be back in Guernsey for quarter to ten.

"So hopefully this then provides people with a bit of confidence, and we can get essentially a shuttle service going between the islands."