14 June 2006
In response to continuing uncertainty regarding ferry services to and from the Island Senator Philip Ozouf, the Minister of Economic Development, has set out a strategy to deliver a sustainable solution for travel on both the Southern and Northern routes between France and the UK. The current situation is as follows:
• Southerly Route: No Service Level Agreement (SLA) exists on the St Malo - Jersey route.
• Northerly Route: The Condor Jersey - UK SLA expires at the end of 2006.
• Guernsey: The Condor exclusive Guernsey - UK SLA expires on 1st January 2009.
The Minister has decided that the Jersey - St Malo and Jersey - UK routes should be governed by new SLAs for the period to 31 December, 2008.
For the period beyond 1st January, 2009 a joint approach to ferry services to the Channel Islands will be developed with Guernsey.
An SLA is currently being drafted for the Jersey - St Malo route that will govern operations on the southerly route for the remainder of 2006 and 2007-08.
Any operator who is prepared to be party to negotiations and to be bound by the agreed SLA will be allowed to deliver combined freight, car and passenger services on the route in this period.
Sogestran/Emeraude
Ferry Services to and from Jersey have been a matter of public concern since late last year when Emeraude Jersey Ferries withdrew its service.
Over the course of the last two months discussions have been held with senior representatives of Sogestran/Emeraude management regarding the potential return of a service on the Jersey to St Malo route. During the course of these discussions Sogestran/Emeraude indicated that they were evaluating a number of options.
Sogestran had been asked to confirm their operational intentions by the of January 2006. This deadline was subsequently extended until the end of February 2006.
To remove continued uncertainty the Economic Development Department has written to Sogestran/Emeraude requesting that they confirm their intentions by 10th March 2006.
Sogestran have been advised that meeting this deadline is imperative so that Jersey Harbours are aware of the Company’s operational intentions and can make the necessary plans for the service to access the harbour. The Company has also been advised that if a response is not received by 10th March, the provisional slots allocated to the company by Jersey Harbour will be withdrawn and may be re-allocated to secure sufficient capacity to secure the peak season demand.
ends
For comment please contact Senator Philip Ozouf, Minister for Economic Development. Telephone 07797 713838
or Deputy Alan Maclean. Telephone 07797 719202
or more information please contact Mike King, Chief Executive Economic Development
01534 500700.
gov.je