Questions raised in States Assembly re ferry contract (FOI)

​Request 692404912

Deputy Morel was not able to answer questions raised by Deputy Tadier the last States Assembly Meeting.

So I would ask the following questions:

1. How much was paid as ferry contingency costs/payments in 2024 and who received this money?

2. How much was paid and contracted to pay as ferry contingency costs/payments in 2025 and who received this money?

I assume that the recipient of the above was FDDS but it should be confirmed.

On the basis that Deputy Tadier asked these questions, it must be in the public interest to know the answers. Furthermore the Deputy should not have asked the question if the information is commercially sensitive, so I would expect a detailed answer.

Response

1. Several contracts were executed during 2023 and 2024 between the Government of Jersey and States of Guernsey with DFDS A/S for the provision of contingency ferry services. Payments were made under those contracts to DFDS A/S against the fulfilment of their contractual obligations, including the onward charter of vessels owned by third parties where applicable. 

The sums paid are commercially sensitive and therefore Article 33 of the Freedom of Information Jersey (Law) 2011 has been applied.

2. A contract was executed between the Government of Jersey and DFDS A/S for the provision of contingency ferry services. Payments will be made under this contract to DFDS A/S against the fulfilment of their contractual obligations, including the onward charter of vessels owned by third parties where applicable. 

The sums paid are commercially sensitive and therefore Article 33 of the Freedom of Information Jersey (Law) 2011 has been applied

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.