Contingency contracts and payments DFDS (FOI)

Request​ 683128938

Please can you confirm the following:

1) What is the amount Jersey are paying DFDS for the contingency ferry service? Previously it was stated at circa £600k between Jersey and Guernsey. If Guernsey did not extend then is Jersey now paying the full £600k - please provide the figure.

2) I understand the current term of this contingency contract to run until March 28th. Please confirm the previous terms, and the dates of renewal for each term.

Response

1) The Government of Jersey is paying a sum to DFDS A/S which represents the cost of chartering underlying vessels owned by other private companies. This information is commercially sensitive. Therefore, Article 33 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

2) The previous terms of this contingency were as follows:

Agreement 1 (Provisional)

Commenced: 15 December 2023

Concluded: 18 December 2023

Agreement 2:

Commenced: 22nd December 2023

Concluded: 31st August 2024

Agreement 3:

Commenced: 1st September 2024 

Concluded: 31st December 2024

Agreement 4: 

Commenced: 1st January 2025

Will conclude: 31st March 2025

Article applied

Article 33 - Commercial interests

Information is qualified exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes a trade secret; or

(b) its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of a person (including the scheduled public authority holding the information).

Public Interest test

Article 33(b) of the Freedom of Information Law allows an authority to refuse a request for information where its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of a person (including the scheduled public authority holding the information). 

Whilst it is accepted that the public may have an interest in the requested information, it is considered that releasing this information could affect the commercial interests of the suppliers and the Government of Jersey.​