Proposed inter-island service 'not acceptable', says Guernsey politican - Jersey Evening Post

by · Jersey Evening Post

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Proposed inter-island service ‘not acceptable’, says Guernsey politican

by James Lewis 12 July 202610 July 2026

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DFDS fast ferry Tarifa Jet Picture: ROB CURRIE

PROPOSED inter-island ferries sailings put forward by DFDS could not have been accepted due to being outside the Guernsey Harbour’s operating hours, Sarnian politicians have said after being criticised by Jersey Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham for rejecting the bid.

In April, the States of Guernsey’s Committee for Economic Development confirmed it has turned down an application from DFDS to run a regular service between the islands using the Stena Vinga vessel. The proposal would have seen the ferry arrive in Guernsey from Jersey on Friday evenings, returning late on Monday afternoons.

Senator Lyndon Farnham, who was returned unopposed as Jersey’s Chief Minister earlier this summer, said in a recent interview with BBC Jersey that he “tried everything” to assist the creation of new inter-island ferry services. He said, however, that he was “disappointed” by Guernsey’s refusal of the sailing.

However, Guernsey’s Economic Development Minister Sasha Kazantseva-Miller said that the proposed Friday evening sailing was “not acceptable” because the ship would only have arrived after the Ports of Guernsey were closed.

She added that she was disappointed with Senator Farnham’s comments and the fact that Guernsey is “being positioned as the ones who said ‘no’”, since it would have been impossible to accommodate a sailing outside of operational hours. 

She reiterated that “Guernsey has shown full commitment to inter-island ferry services”, pointing to the Islands Unlimited and Brittany Ferries services. 

She said that while there were no ongoing talks with the Government of Jersey, Guernsey politicians “are due to write to them imminently” to arrange further discussions.

Meanwhile, Guernsey Deputy John Gollop, vice-president for the Home Affairs Committee, said he would welcome fresh talks. 

It is the latest twist in the long-running ferry saga which saw Jersey and Guernsey select different operators. Since March 2025, ferry services have been run in DFDS in Jersey and Brittany Ferries in Guernsey. 

This was despite initial attempts by both islands’ governments to run a joint tender for one company to service Jersey and Guernsey.

In May of this year, the States of Guernsey told the Government of Jersey and DFDS to “stop playing games” when inter-island services were cancelled by DFDS. The ferry operator had been selling sailings but had not received a licence to do so.

Currently, there is only one service per week that can take cars – operated by Brittany Ferries on a Wednesday. 

Inter-island travel has been a major source of contention in recent years, with two applications from Loganair to run lifeline routes to and from Guernsey – including inter-island flights – being rejected by a panel of Guernsey politicians earlier this year.

Guernsey’s Transport Licensing Authority issues air transport licences for designated essential routes to and from Guernsey, which include Gatwick, Alderney and Southampton – with Jersey to became an essential route from 15 January.

The TLA rejected Loganair’s bids but approved a bid from Aurigny, which is wholly owned by the States of Guernsey.

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