Guernsey Press

Bon Marin de Serk is decommissioned

THE longest-serving Sark Shipping vessel is being decommissioned.

Published
Passenger Ferry Bon Marin De Serk. (Picture by Tony Rive)

The Bon Marin de Serk’s licence expires this week after ferrying passengers between Guernsey and Sark for 37 years.

Managing director Jan Milner explained that, although the Bon Marin has served the Bailiwick well, it is time to replace the ageing ship.

‘The Bon Marin is now a very old vessel,’ said Mr Milner.

‘We are halfway through securing a replacement service and we will have a more modern vessel in its place towards the end of the season.’

When asked about how the remaining fleet will cope before the replacement is introduced, Mr Milner reassured passengers that services will remain as frequent as ever.

‘The capacities of our remaining vessels, especially the Sark Venture and the Sark Belle, are more than adequate to cope with current demand,’ said Mr Milner.

He also confirmed that Sark Shipping staff numbers will not be affected despite being one boat down temporarily.

Isle of Sark Shipping is owned by Sark’s government.

The island’s 2018 financial statements said that Chief Pleas had £705,788 invested in the company and its net assets were £925,158.