Just hours after Jersey’s government announced plans for borders to reopen, the ferry firm said its operations to France could be plagued by delays and cancellations this summer following the collapse of St Malo Manutention.
The demise of the firm follows years of industrial action by its staff which has disrupted services to the Brittany port.
Elwyn Dop, Condor’s executive director of operations, said the situation was frustrating and inconvenient but insisted the ferry operator was working hard to make alternative arrangements.
‘The past few years have seen disruption for our freight customers and passengers, often at very short notice, so it is now very disappointing to learn that SMM, the sole stevedore company in St Malo, is to close.
‘The situation is regrettable as it currently impacts on our freight sailings through the port and is also beyond our control.’
He added: ‘There is an awful irony in that having not been able to operate any high-speed passenger services for four months due to Covid, we could conceivably see a resumption from Guernsey and Jersey this summer affected by industrial action in St Malo, causing delays and cancellations.’
Mr Dop confirmed the company was liaising with other port users, the St Malo Port Authority, and other officials in the Brittany region to find a solution.
