Concerns raised at lack of back-up for fast ferry

A former Guernsey harbourmaster has raised concerns about the lack of a back-up fast ferry in Brittany Ferries' new schedule.

Peter Gill said despite this concern, he believed the new Brittany Ferries timetable for 2025 was "very pragmatic" and would provide a service for Guernsey.

Guernsey's States is set to sign a contract with Brittany Ferries to run its sea links for the next 15 years on Tuesday.

Brittany Ferries has been contacted for comment.

Capt Gill was Guernsey's harbourmaster for eight years between 2005 and 2013.

He suggested the new, more regular services to St Malo may not attract much interest during the off-peak season.

But he was confident the Guernsey-only service would avoid what he believed was one of the biggest problems for local operators - tidal restrictions at Jersey's harbour in St Helier.

"The new arrangement will be better for staff at Guernsey Harbours, they won't have to be working to the tidal restrictions in St Helier," he said.

Under the new timetable a fast-ferry service will run once a week to Jersey, which Capt Gill said was "pretty similar" to the operation currently provided by Condor.

It is currently unclear what the future is for the Commodore Goodwill and Condor Liberation, but Captain Gill has suggested the Goodwill may be used on the Cherbourg to Ireland route where the Clipper is currently operating.

Brittany Ferries' new schedule uses the Condor Voyager and Condor Islander, with the Commodore Clipper acting as a back-up.

The Government of Jersey is currently running a new tender process to find an operator for its sea links.

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