Lack of inter-island ferries 'devastating' events

Clubs say a single weekly ferry service between Jersey and Guernsey has been "devastating" for inter-island competitions.

Deputy Montfort Tadier said a scrutiny panel, which he chairs, would present evidence to Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture Kirsten Morel and he expected him to address public concerns.

Brittany Ferries operates the Wednesday services, DFDS ran an inter-island service on Mondays in the summer and Islands Unlimited ran a passenger service until September, which is due to resume in March.

Nathan Beddoe, Jersey Motorcycle and Light Car Club president, said it meant sport with kit larger than a golf club was "impossible".

The weekly service follows the decision by Jersey and Guernsey's governments to choose different ferry firms to operate their sea links from March 2025.

Brittany Ferries was chosen by Guernsey and DFDS by Jersey.

Beddoe added not being able to travel between Jersey and Guernsey over weekends had "had a devastating effect on local motorsport".

He said: "One hundred and eighty seven competitors chose not to come to Jersey to compete in motorsport as a direct result of infrequent, expensive and in a lot of cases, a non-existent ferry service."

Beddoe said: "How can Jersey find itself in a situation where our neighbouring island is so close and yet so far away?"

President of Guernsey's Island Dog Training Club Sarah Sarre said inter-island dog show competitions were no longer practical because competitors could not visit for a weekend.

The Channel Islands Dog of the Year competition is set to be held on 14 February in Jersey and organiser expect to see a lower number of Guernsey competitors because of boat timetables.

Sarre said: "It's just really devastating for them. It's a really big thing to qualify for something, and then not be able to go is really sad."

She added: "We need to work with Jersey, and Jersey needs to work with Guernsey as much as possible to make sure we don't lose this connectivity between the two islands."

Christine Marett, vice chair of the Kennel Club of Jersey, said people could not afford the time or money to spend an entire week in either island for a weekend event.

She said there was a "big impact financially" for the dog clubs because they were having fewer entries to their shows.

"We really want something to be done. We can't believe that the government did not include inter-insular with the ferry contract."

Marett said the future of dog shows in the Channel Islands looked "very difficult" if there was no wider inter-island service.

DFDS said it had "opened talks with Jersey and Guernsey authorities and other ferry operators to explore whether a viable vehicle-carrying service between the islands could be established".

It said it was "willing to engage" despite the service not being part of its current contract.

Brittany Ferries said the "lack of inter-island connectivity is not a failure of Brittany Ferries nor of Guernsey or its politicians".

It said: "It is because there was no provision for such a service in the new Jersey ferry operator's concession agreement."

The BBC has approached the Government of Jersey for a response, though Morel has previously expressed his desire to find a solution to inter-island travel issues.

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