JERSEY Harbours is pushing to become a States-owned limited company.

The department has scrapped the idea of becoming a trust port – which it has been developing for the last five years – and now wants to be an independent entity but still fully owned by the States.The change in course has been prompted by a study of the Harbour’s future by consultants Deloitte and Touche.

They looked at a number of possible structures available to Jersey Harbours and concluded that becoming a States-owned limited liability company was the best way forward.MinisterialThe Harbour has been looking for a new structure for a number of years.

It has long sought ways to become more commercially focused with greater freedom to make decisions and raise revenue but this has been given fresh impetus in the last few years by next year’s move to ministerial government – which will mark the end of the Harbours and Airport Committee.