A call for tenders has been issued for the DSP serving the Islands of islands of Ouessant, Molène, Sein (Finistère), Belle-Île, Groix, Houat and Hoëdic (Morbihan) in France.
The contract is for the period 2023-2029.
One of the candidates is Brittany Ferries.
The two current operators Penn ar Bed and Océane are also under consideration but the region wants one single operator.
The new delegation of maritime public service (“DSP”) was voted on Thursday (28 April 2022) by the majority by the Assembly of Corsica, after 7 hours of stormy debates between the territorial executive and the opposition.
The new DSP 2023-2029 will cover the connection between five Corsican ports and Marseille. Each year, during seven years, EUR 85 million will be available.
The opposition voted against or abstained, for two main reasons:
From several sources Ferry Shipping News understands that the European Commission acknowledged the need for a subsidized service.
Next step: selecting the ferry operators.
“The current Maritime Public Service Delegation (DSP) between Corsica and Marseille expires on December 31, 2022. The European Commission’s questioning of the very existence of the public service principle puts a sword of Damocles on the territorial continuity,” writes Corse Net Infos in a long article in French, quoting several political stakeholders (but not the ferry operators).
Some interesting elements, quotes, remarks of the debate:
The new DSP (delegation of public services) has been voted on 27 July. After a period of analysing it has been decided to organise the DSP differently.