Vedrey Tora leaving St Sampson’s harbour. (Picture by Tony Rive)

GUERNSEY paid €16.9m. for two tankers that have guaranteed the island’s fuel supply.

The Vedrey Tora and Vedrey Thor were valued at between €14m. and €16m. each when built a little more than a year ago.

They were bought last month by the States after the company that owned them went into administration.

In an unprecedented move, the Policy Council exceeded its mandate by authorising the purchase after fears emerged that any potential new owner might have removed them from supplying the island.

That would have left Guernsey without any reasonable means of receiving fuel because the Vedrey Tora is currently the only vessel available, out of a total of seven worldwide, capable of using St Sampson’s Harbour.

When he announced the purchase, Chief Minister Lyndon Trott could not say how much the island had paid because due diligence was ongoing.

But in a special Billet d’Etat released today, Deputy Trott said the amount paid took into account the cost of refurbishing the ballast tanks of the Vedrey Thor.