06 December 2024
Questions answered: Find out more about the new DFDS Jersey-only ferry service below.
- Where will the ferry go to in the UK and France?
Conventional, high-speed and freight only vessels will serve ports in Poole, Portsmouth and St Malo. These were part of the Jersey-only DFDS bid. A summer timetable will be confirmed very soon, and expressions of interest can already be made for sailings next year.
- What about inter-island (Guernsey) services?
Jersey will work closely with counterparts in Guernsey and the ferry operators to draw-up inter-island proposals going forward. We will say more about that in due course.
We recognise that this is an important area of travel, especially for our sports teams and community groups, and will do everything we can to ensure the timetable is suitable.
We will also work with the Manche Isle Express for inter-island foot passengers and encourage islanders to use this service.
- Will it be more expensive?
DFDS have committed to similar tickets prices to now plus RPI for next year.
- What can passengers expect?
- Greater frequency of ferries to the UK and France in peak periods
- Faster ferries to the UK
- Three new ferries within the next six years
- Two dedicated high-speed ferries for the summer.
- When will Islanders be able to book tickets?
Booking options will be outlined shortly to give Islanders and businesses certainty into the new year. We expect the published timetable to be available at the end of next week (13 Dec).
- What vessels will be used – how do they compare in terms of speed and capacity?
Jersey will be served by a mixture of high-speed, larger conventional ferries, and freight-only vessels. There will be two dedicated high-speed ferries for the summer. More on this will come from DFDS.
Final contract negotiations are taking place with the aim of being in contract by the end of next week (13 Dec).
Condor Ferries will continue to provide services to the island until 28 March 2025 when the new agreement with DFDS will become effective.
- Tour operators have said that the uncertainty has affected sales for next year – can you guarantee the same / better services and when will they be able to start selling Jersey tours?
DFDS has been selected on the strength of its service offer and we are confident the new service will provide our visitor economy with the service it needs to succeed.
To make sure tour operators get as much of what they're looking for from next summer's schedule, DFDS has opened an Expressions of Interest portal to allow operators to get in touch and outline what might work for them from a schedule perspective.
DFDS have also indicated that they will actively promote destinations to aid tour operators.
- Have you been in contact with officials in France?
We have informed the Presidents of both Brittany and Normandy of our decision and will work with them to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship.
With the possibility of more freight and passenger sailings to France, including St Malo, we anticipate this to be mutually complimentary.
- Please explain how a flat rate for freight will lower prices
Volume-based freight rate cards advantage only very large logistics operators. This is because the more freight space an operator buys, the cheaper it is. This makes it hard for new entrants or smaller operators to really succeed and gives market dominance to larger operators on no other basis. A flat rate card is there to encourage greater competition - competition on services as well as price - for retailers and, in turn, customers.
- How robust was the new Jersey process and did we learn any lessons from the joint Channel Islands process?
While Guernsey's unilateral decision in October presented Jersey with some challenges, ultimately, the process has led each island to different outcomes. We believe this is the strongest outcome for Jersey and we wish our partners in Guernsey well.
Learning lessons from the joint procurement with Guernsey, we have run a robust Jersey-only procurement process that has been independently moderated.
- What contingency plans do you have in place to ensure a smooth transition?
The Government has contingencies secured for both lifeline freight and passenger services between now and March 2025 should the principal ferry services become unavailable or be taken offline.
The contingencies arrangements contain excellent, well-tested vessels that can provide good passenger and freight services to Jersey...and Guernsey, if necessary, too.
The arrangement means we will have fully operational passenger and freight services within two days of us moving to our contingency arrangements.
gov.je