Port and shipping inquiry ordered

Wednesday 26th July 2006, 12:00AM BST.

A MAJOR inquiry into the costs of shipping, ferry operations and port costs has been ordered by Economic Development Minister Philip Ozouf.

The work by the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) could result in one of the most significant reports on the workings of the Island’s economy that has ever been produced.

Companies could be raided by the competition regulator and have computers and files seized if officers suspect that information is being concealed.

The JCRA announced today that it would start work on what executive director Bill Brown described as a ‘far-reaching and wide-ranging’ review of all aspects of the industry.

However, he described it as an ‘institutional review’ that would primarily examine whether sufficient safeguards were in place to prevent abuse by major market players or monopoly operators.

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