From John Sawyer, director, Puddleducks.
I REFER to the letter from Clive Jones, chairman of Jersey Heritage (JEP, 14 July) regarding the DUKW service to Elizabeth Castle.
It is fair to say that the directors of Puddleducks Ltd had decided, in 2006, to discontinue involvement in operating the amphibious service to the castle. The four directors had differing business interests, none of which fitted in with the continued operation at West Park.
It was decided to sell the business, which would have continued to be viable for a one-man operator, and after consultation with Jersey Heritage, adverts were placed for the sale.
Three parties showed interest in the sale utilising the existing equipment while the fourth, Pure Adventure, put forward a proposal using the new concept of Hydra Terras, which subsequently was accepted. The rest is history.
However I have to challenge Mr Jones’ claim that the new vehicles are safer and more reliable than the old purpose-built ‘ducks’. Puddleducks operated for nine years and the previous owner, Henk Goed, who built the boats, for many years before that.
At no time for that long period was the service interrupted, except for bad weather, when conditions were beyond the Harbour Office recommended safety limits. Any breakdowns that occurred were dealt with immediately, on site, by an experienced mechanic/manager.
Add to that the carrying capacity of the old Puddleducks (96 passengers) compared to the present capacity (64 passengers). It is fairly obvious that the new fleet will never be able to cope with larger corporate or ‘rave’ groups. Suffice to say that Puddleducks carried just over 1,000 passengers for the 2006 rave and all in five hours.
Further, I am concerned to note that Mr Jones thinks it sensible that Jersey Heritage should be viewed as a reasonable partner and not to push another business (Pure Adventure) to the financial brink. Easily said when you are utilising taxpayers money. That would not be the case in the commercial world.
Then in Wednesday’s JEP, in a report by Richard Heath on Heritage funding, when challenged by Deputy Ben Fox as to how much it cost to buy the new ferries, Mr Jones ‘could not remember’. That comment surely must be of concern.
There is a happy ending to this sad saga. The old Puddleducks vehicles have been sold. The 40 passenger craft went to Devon Duck Tours in Appledore, Devon (see their website on Google) and the two smaller boats are in Europe, one in Berlin and the other in Krakow, Poland. I am sure they will continue to give pleasure to many people for many years to come.
