Emeraude hopefuls must wait

Three companies trying to take over Emeraude Lines are being asked to provide more information on their bids by the end of the week.

A tribunal sat in St Malo on Wednesday to decide who should take over the assets of the ferry firm which has been in financial trouble.

Bids have come in from an unnamed French group, an unnamed Jersey group and French firm Compagnie Nationale de Navigation.

A decision on who, if any of the bidders, takes over the Channel Islands to France ferry route should be announced on Monday.

It is rather baffling when we have politicans advocating that we scrap landing fees at the airport... and down at the harbour a long serving carrier has been halted for not paying the equivalent fee Nico Jouault Have Your Say

If none of the bids are considered good enough, Emeraude Lines could be placed in administration.

Emeraude filed for protection from bankruptcy in October with debts said to be in the region of four million euros.

Jersey harbour authorities say permission for any new car ferry service will partly depend on whether it can pay off Emeraude Lines' Jersey debts.