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Brittany Ferries has unveiled details of its summer schedule for Guernsey – which only features a sailing to Jersey once per week.
The company is set to sign the final contract for the Guernsey operation on Tuesday, but before that details of what it will offer have been confirmed.
Condor currently operates a ferry between Jersey and Guernsey six days a week in peak season, but this is set to be reduced to once a week in March 2025.
Under the new plans, the high speed Condor Voyager will operate a St Malo-Guernsey-Poole-Guernsey-St Malo rotation daily in the high season and three times a week off-peak.
Condor Islander will run a freight and passenger service six days a week from Portsmouth, and Condor Clipper will operate back-up services when needed.
But the Liberation and freight vessel the Goodwill no longer feature on the Guernsey routes.
Bookings will open from 17:00 on Tuesday.
Pictured: Condor Islander will run a freight and passenger service six days a week from Portsmouth.
Christophe Mathieu, Brittany Ferries' and Condor Ferries' CEO, said: "Brittany Ferries will introduce an approach to passenger and freight management based on a philosophy we have proudly embraced for more than 50 years.
"We exist to connect people, facilitate trade and enrich the regions we serve. So in this new era the island will be put first, services will improve and benefits will be felt by all.
"We are delighted to confirm our agreement with the States of Guernsey and I am pleased to confirm that next summer's sailings will be available next Tuesday, so my message to everyone is we are open for business.
"We have taken steps to put in place schedules that demand and support the tourism in Guernsey. We are committed to providing islanders with convenient options to secure their journeys."
Brittany Ferries is now the majority shareholder of Condor.
Jersey has now launched a "rapid process" to confirm its own freight and passenger service provider, which should be complete by the first week of December.
DFDS confirmed that it would be throwing its hat in the ring – and said it would be capable of taking over operations "immediately" if required.
For the Guernsey contract, the States of Guernsey will be granting a licence under the Ro-Ro Sea- Links (Guernsey) Law, 2024 to Brittany Ferries together with permission to assign the licence to Condor Ferries subject to compliance with the concession agreement.
Brittany Ferries provides a full financial and operational guarantee over the services in the contract.
Guernsey's Economic Development President Neil Inder said: "Negotiations with Brittany Ferries on a Guernsey-only service have gone well and we're set to sign the contract on Tuesday.
"However, as the schedule is ready and agreed we didn't want to wait any longer than necessary before we and Brittany gave the community the certainty it needs and deserves.
"The schedule secures both fast and conventional ferry travel with a dependable timetable, for which most sailings will not be subject to tidal variations, good frequency without any notable increase in cost."
He said that was a success given a need to optimise for a Guernsey-only service.
"We continue to leave the door open for Jersey should it choose Brittany Ferries and want to turn this into a service for both islands," he said.
Deputy Inder believes the timing of the early morning St Malo departure and late afternoon departure from Guernsey to St Malo gives opportunity for increased day trip traffic from France.
"Likewise the lunchtime arrival on a Saturday in St Malo will be attractive for those Guernsey residents embarking on a holiday in France," he said.
"In terms of UK travel, lunchtime arrivals and early afternoon departures from Poole allows for easier onward travel.
"Brittany have included a weekly inter-island crossing in the schedule but the intention would be to increase frequency combined with the Jersey ferry operator. This aspect of the schedule is subject to further development and agreement with Jersey."
"While freight importers will need to make some adjustments to align their operations with a single early morning service, instead of the two sailings they have been used to, ultimately the ability to maintain total capacity for freight is secured as a single sailing can bring in the total number of containers that were previously being spread over two sailings.
"And the fact it will consistently arrive at 4am every day is a positive for retailers."
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