New ferry company reports strong first season, says CEO

The managing director of a new ferry operator says its first 14 weeks of service between Guernsey and Jersey have been a “really good season.”

Islands Unlimited, which secured a vessel in May and launched in June, reported stronger-than-expected ticket sales in August, despite weather disruptions that forced the cancellation of some sailings and around 800 ticket refunds.

Managing director Chad Murray said: “Weather is weather. We know what we’re getting into when it comes to our islands.”

Reflecting on the launch period, Mr Murray described it as a “fascinating” time and said the overall operation had been “really successful.”

The company intends to continue running services until the end of October, though Mr Murray acknowledged concerns about passenger demand during the winter months.

“As a sole commercial entity, we can’t confidently say we can sustain a service through the winter,” he said.

He added that the business was “learning every day” but admitted prolonged poor weather remained a key challenge, as there were no alternative travel options available when sailings were cancelled.

Looking ahead, Islands Unlimited has set its sights on growth, with plans to expand its network in 2026 to include other islands within the Bailiwick.

Mr Murray said the goal of developing an “island-hopping Channel Islands market” was now “firmly in our sights.”