HD to cease sailings until 2009

HD Ferries is blaming rising fuel costs for the move

A Channel Island ferry company is stopping its summer service on Sunday and will not be sailing from Jersey to France and Guernsey again until 2009.

HD Ferries is blaming rising fuel costs and a slowdown in the economy.

Jersey's Economic Development Department (EDD) said it was considering what action to take following the announcement.

Assistant Minister for EDD, Deputy Alan Maclean said: "This kind of cherry-picking is unacceptable."

He said: "We are keen the service should succeed, but this is the second season in a row that the company has not run a service throughout the winter."

'Far from normal'

The last service until next year for the company will arrive in Jersey from France on Sunday night.

The company, which started taking cars and passengers last year, is contacting passengers booked on its services.

It says continuing to run services is "economically unsustainable".

Normally, the company would expect demand during the summer to help it get through the autumn and winter.

The company had problems last year when part of one of its engines broke, forcing the company to stop its winter services.

"This year has been far from normal - the general economic slowdown has limited demand and, at the same time, high fuel costs have substantially increased our operating costs," said James Howe-Davies, CEO of HD Ferries.

"The net impact is that there would be no realistic prospect of resuming services in 2009 unless we bring services for 2008 to an end early."