Emeraude Ferries

Founded	1904
Defunct	2006
Fate	Dissolved
Headquarters	Saint-Malo , France
Area served	English Channel
Key people	Pierre Legras, MD Gordon Forrest, CEO
Services	Passenger transportation Freight transportation
Parent	2003–2006: Sogestran
Website	www.emeraudeferries.com

Emeraude Ferries was a shipping company which operated vehicle and passenger ferries between the French city of Saint-Malo and the Channel Islands. The company ceased trading in May 2006 following strong competition^[1] and difficulties in finding a suitable vessel for the 2006 season.

Emeraude Ferries was founded in 1904 as Bateaux de la Côte d'Émeraude.^[2] The initial operations of the company were to transport passengers and cargo between towns along the Côte d'Émeraude, including Saint Malo, Dinard and Cap Fréhel, and along the River Rance.^[3]

In 1987 Emeraude took over the services and boats of Vedettes Blanches et Vertes. Blanches et Vertes was formed from the amalgamation of the two previous operating companies Vedettes Blanches Saint Malo and Vedettes Vertes Granvillaises who had first launched their high speed catamaran services to the Channel Islands in 1976.^[3] In 1988 the company rebranded its ferry services as Emeraude Lines.^[4]

Competition arrived in March 2003 when Condor Ferries were granted a licence to carry cars from Jersey to St Malo. Previously only Emeraude Lines was permitted to carry cars and passengers to St Malo direct from Jersey.^[5] The decision by the States of Jersey had an immediate effect on Emeraude sales and by October of that year the company was in financial difficulties, having reputedly lost £1,000,000 in turnover since Condor operations began on the route.^[6][7] On 2 October 2003, the company filed for protection from bankruptcy in France with debts of €4,000,000, and was given 3 months to demonstrate the viability of a return to profitability.^[8] The Solidor 5 was impounded, although eventually released over a £300,000 debt to Jersey Harbours and Airport Committee for harbour fees for several days.^[7]

In November 2003, the administrator determined that the company needed to be sold to remain in business and named French company; Compagnie Nationale de Navigation as her preferred bidder for Emeraude, over a rival bid from a Jersey-based investor.^[9] Ultimately though, Emeraude Lines was purchased by the Sogestran Group in the same month.^[10][11] The company was renamed Emeraude Ferries, and after ending uncertainty over the service by securing the purchase of Solidor 5 in January 2004, recommenced normal service.^[12]

In early 2005, Emeraude tendered to operate routes between Carteret, Granville and Diélette to Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark. The service had been operated by Connex in 2004, but French government authority who had initiated and funded the service decided to terminate the contract in October of that year after a number of administrative and technical issues. Emeraude and Connex were beaten by Manche Iles Express, owned by Breton company; Société Morbihannaise de Navigation. Incidentally SMN's parent company had been among bidders to take over Emeraude when they were put up for sale in 2003.^[13][14]

A price war with Condor saw Emeraude lose millions of Euros over the Summer of 2005,^[15] and this was one of the factors in the decision to cease services.^[6] Initially the company only cancelled services in December 2005 until the end of February 2006,^[16] due to damage to the stabilising foils on Solidor 5, but the firm was unable to find a replacement vessel.^[17] Despite encouragement from the States of Jersey, and an announcement at the end of April 2006 that services would resume from the middle of May,^[18] the firm ultimately announced in May 2006, that sailings would not recommence.^[19] Reports of the figure vary, but Sogestran are believed to have incurred, by the time of closure, losses of between 8 and 15 million euros since taking over the company.^[17][20]

Emeraude operated a fleet of passenger and car ferries.