10 June 2010
Islanders are being asked for their views about car and passenger ferry services running to and from the 2 islands.
A major new consultation paper has been published jointly by Jersey’s Economic Development Department and Guernsey’s Commerce and Employment Department.
The paper reviews competition, licensing and regulation in the car and passenger ferry market and in particular the:
- current level, quality and prices of services being provided
- levels and quality of services required in today’s circumstances and whether or not it would be acceptable to reduce these in order to achieve lower prices
- need to maintain a reliable year-round service and how this may best be achieved through competition and / or licensing
- possible benefits and costs of increasing the degree of regulation of services involving the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA), the Guernsey Office of Utility Regulation (OUR) or other similar body
The Minister for Economic Development, Senator Alan Maclean, said "Jersey and Guernsey have regular contact on a wide range of issues but it’s unusual for us to consult the public in both islands at the same time. Sea transport is vital to both islands and we recognise that inter-island co-operation is essential if we’re to work with operators to licence viable services for all Channel Islanders."
The Minister for Commerce and Employment in Guernsey, Deputy Carla McNulty Bauer, added "Commerce and Employment is committed to working jointly with Jersey on a whole range of issues to seize the opportunities to improve services and where possible reduce costs. The appointment in 2009 of a joint regulator for aviation safety in the Channel Islands shows what can be achieved. We hope people in Guernsey and Jersey will take this opportunity to give us their views on sea transport so that we can move forward together.”
The deadline for responses is 2 September 2010.
Car and passenger ferry market
gov.je