Condor sailings to France this weekend are yet again at risk as stevedores threaten to blockade St Malo once more.
Passenger departures between St Malo and Jersey on Friday 31 July, Saturday 1, Sunday 2 and Monday 3 August are currently under review, along with the weekend’s freight service, as former employees of the stevedore company, SMM, are threatening to resume industrial action at the Brittany port.
‘It is hugely frustrating to discover that our sailings this weekend could be at risk once more after only having operated for the past two weeks. Should the position not resolve itself over the next couple of days, we may have to cancel so passengers will be offered alternative dates to St Malo or they can travel this week to Portsmouth and reach France via another operator and port which are unaffected by the disruption,’ said Elwyn Dop, Condor’s Operations Director.
‘We remain absolutely determined to provide travel options for Islanders and also support Jersey’s visitor economy. Whilst we continue to try and find a solution to allow us to sail to St Malo, we are left with no option but to explore the possibility of operating to another French port.’
Condor’s passenger service to France resumed on 17 July after striking stevedores forced the ferry company to cancel planned sailings for the previous two weekends.