HD FERRIES - New catamaran ferry enters the ports of St Malo, Jersey and Guernsey for the first time

HD Ferries will start operating between Jersey, Guernsey and St Malo on March 15th in competition with Condor Ferries.

HD Ferries managing director Chris Howe-Davies is hoping for future cooperation with Condor Ferries.

."We are looking to grow the market and would hope to code-share with them one day". People could go one way with Condor and one way with HD Ferries,' he said. .`Airlines do it and work together'.

But Condor has rejected the idea.

`Not a chance,' said Nick Dobbs, its general manager for sales and marketing, yesterday. `We have always said the potential for competition exists. It looks as though we will have some competition for 2007 and we will compete,' he said. He saw no point in code-sharing but conceded there was nothing to stop the people mixing and matching and using both services.

The Islanders of Guernsey and Jersey had their first glimpse of the new high-speed vehicle and passenger ferry yesterday as it sailed in to St Peter Port and St Helier. The HD1 vessel left the dry dock in Gibraltar on Saturday 17th February to make its journey up the coast of Portugal and across the Bay of Biscay to St Malo and the Channel Island ports to give the locals a glimpse of the new ferry.

`I'm really surprised how well it went. We came through the Bay of Biscay at 40 knots,' said Mr Howe-Davies.

`We did St Malo to Jersey in 40 minutes.'

Former Emeraude Lines captain had, he said, told him it was the fastest they had ever crossed from St Malo to Jersey'

`We used 30% less fuel than we expected. They got up to 47 knots. It was very exciting and quite emotional,' he said.

Spirits were high on board as the vessel easily managed 38 knots despite fairly big waves and a heavy load of fuel.

Mr Howe-Davies said competition should be healthy for passengers and he promised `value for money' and `improving the schedule for Guernsey' after the service starts.

`We knew when Emeraude Lines stopped, at least 100,000 people stopped travelling and we hope to get them back.'

It has already taken 6,000 bookings up to the end of September.

The HD1 catamaran is currently in Portsmouth receiving ramp and engine work and will return to the islands on the 13th March for an open day between 11am and 4pm.

Fares are from £15 for a single passenger journey and a car and two passengers return cost from £78.

There will be a daily summer service between March - September and 3 weekly winter sailings.

* More information and bookings are available via www.hdferries.com or by calling 0870 4600 231 for passenger information or 0870 4600 232 for freight enquiries. Information can also be obtained by calling into the Ship & Fly office on the New Jetty or by calling 728800.

There are currently no special offers available.