Evaluation of ferry routes and the Jersey-St. Malo ferry route

1240/5(2037)

QUESTION TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE HARBOURS AND AIRPORT COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 20th JANUARY 2004, BY SENATOR E.P. VIBERT

Question

1. Would the President confirm that during the vote ofnoconfidenceintheCommitteelatelast year he gave a very firm undertaking totheAssembly that before the Committee introduced more competition to theSt. Malo-Jerseyroute the Committee would carryout a full study of theroute to ensure that it couldhandletwo operators?
2. Would the President inform memberswhat actions, if any, have been taken to commission a study in relation to the operationoftheJersey-St.Malo route, and provide details of the terms of reference proposed, if applicable.
3. Would the President explain the Committee's reasons for allowing Condor to operate at weekends during the winter months and how this fits in with the proposed study?

Answer

I have no recollection of providing an undertaking in the terms stated in the question. In response to a question from Senator Paul Le Claire, I did confirm, on 4th November 2003, that the Harbours and Airport Committee was committed to an evaluation of the viability of all of our ferry routes and indicated some draft terms of reference.

I also invited members to provide input into these draft terms of reference. I am grateful to the President of the Economic Development Committee, Deputy Gerald Voisin, Senator Michael Vibert , Deputy Ben Fox and officials of the JCRA whose suggestions enabled us to refine and improve these terms of reference which have been finalised as follows -

1 .  T o carry out an in depth review of the economics and future viability of passenger and car carrying ferry

services between the Island and France and the Island and the United Kingdom operating year round with capacity to meet the demands of all categories of user (Island residents, tourists, day trippers, commercial) and at the best value.

2 .  T o identify the effects of the way in which the freight market operates on ferry service competition to

and from Jersey and on the viability of those ferry services.

3 .  T o identify options for competition and assess whether the long-term interests of the Island would be

best served by the adoption of such options and to recommend action that could be taken to enhance the viability and security of the services.

4 . T o present in clear, concise and unambiguous terms, those recommendations to the Harbours and

Airport and Economic Development Committees by Friday 14th May 2004.

Three organisations have been invited to review the terms of reference, put forward suggestions for improving or clarifying these and provide an inclusive cost for the work involved.

The results of this examination will assist the Harbours and Airport and the Economic Development Committees in deciding how best to allocate ramp permits when the current ones expire.  In the case of the St. Malo-St. Helier route, this occurs at the end of this year both for Condor and Sogestran.

As Condor's ramp permit remains current, the scheduling of their services is a matter for them, subject to the availability of the ramp at the times they require. It is reasonable to assume that they have chosen to include weekends in their schedule because this is likely to be a convenient time for people to travel.