The takeover by Brittany Ferries of UK-Channel Islands-France operator Condor will “result in a better service” for passengers, according to the chief executive of the French firm.
Following the development, the chief executive Christophe Mathieu made this comment after the Jersey Competition and Regulation Authority (JCRA) approved his company’s bid to become a majority stakeholder in the Guernsey based operator.
The chief executive of JCRA, Tim Ringsdore, said that further details would be published by the watchdog soon.
Condor Ferries, which has routes connecting Portsmouth, Poole, and St. Malo, is vying with Danish shipping firm DFDS, based in Copenhagen, to win the new contract to operate Channel Island passenger and freight services. Such operations are currently served by a mixed fleet using conventional tonnage ferries, fast-craft, and a freight ferry.
In addition, as Afloat reported, Dublin based operator Irish Ferries is also understood to be bidding for the contract to serve Guernsey and Jersey. The current contract is due to end in 2025.
As the majority shareholder with a 51% stake, Mr. Mathieu said that Brittany Ferries would assume operational responsibility for Condor “with immediate effect.”.
Jersey Evening Post has more on the move, in which the Chief Executive claimed that the takeover would “result in a better service for Condor’s passengers.”.
