The outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran war on February 28 has sent oil prices soaring, placing an unsustainable burden on the primary daily freight link between Jersey and Guernsey.
A vital inter-island shipping route is the latest casualty of global geopolitical shifts. Iris Freight, which operates a daily catamaran between Jersey and Guernsey, has reported a sharp increase in operational costs following the start of hostilities in the Middle East earlier this year. With an annual fuel expenditure approaching £100,000, the company is struggling to absorb the impact of rising wholesale oil prices.
Managing Director David Nuth suggested that the company’s lifespan may be limited to the next few years unless the market stabilizes or the service model changes. The decline of physical media, specifically newspapers printed in Jersey, has removed the financial safety net that previously allowed the company to weather economic fluctuations. Nuth indicated that the business is now operating on a “three to five-year” outlook as digital consumption replaces traditional print.
“Fuel prices have gone up in the last couple of weeks and obviously because of the wars… it does have an impact on us. We need the papers to continue doing what we’re doing.”
While the company continues to operate every day of the year except Christmas, the threat of closure has prompted calls for government review. The service remains the only viable method for delivering fresh bakery goods, medical equipment, and livestock between the islands on a daily basis. The Jersey government has been approached for comment regarding potential support or contingency plans for these essential freight movements.
SOURCES: Iris Freight, Energy Market Reports (March 2026), Channel Island News Services.
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