Jersey ferry tender decision NOT made today

Monday, 4 November 2024 16:12

A decision on which company will run ferry services for Jersey has not yet been made.

An announcement was expected today(4 November) from the government, which many hoped would tell us if either Condor Ferries or DFDS would be serving the island for the next 15 years.

Instead, a statement from the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development Kirsten Morel was released shortly before 4pm. It reads:

“There have been further positive discussions today concerning our lifeline ferry services. We are considering the legal, commercial, and financial implications of the bids, including additional legal advice received today.

"I understand the frustration of islanders that a decision has not yet been made, but the complications created by the situation we find ourselves in are extensive and we need to ensure we have all the information to make the correct decision.

"A further announcement will be made tomorrow (Tuesday 5 November).”

It is unclear if tomorrow's statement will be a final decision on the tender process.

Kirsten Morel

On Friday (1 November), we found out that Jersey and Guernsey's governments are paying a combined €700,000 a month for two ferries to sit in Dunkirk on standby.

The contingency plan was set up by politicians from both islands after Condor experienced financial difficulties at the end of 2023.

This news followed Guernsey's surprise announcement on Wednesday (30 October) that it had chosen Condor Ferries, which is majority-owned by Brittany Ferries, to serve their waters from next year.

A joint decision was initially expected in September. The wait continues until we find out whether Jersey will choose the same, or a different operator.

Danish firm DFDS are understood to be the only other company in the running.

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