One of the last actions of 2024 for Jersey’s government has been signing a contract with DFDS to provide ferry services to the UK and France.
The government confirmed in a statement late on 31 December that it has signed a deal with Danish ferry company DFDS.
The firm will operate passenger and freight services to the UK and France from 28 March 2025, when the existing agreement with Condor Ferries ends.
The statement says the contract will run for 20 years, which is more than the 15-year term previously understood to have been on the table.
The statement continues, "The services will include routes from Jersey to Poole and Portsmouth in the UK, and Saint-Malo in France."
"DFDS has committed to:
• Greater frequency of ferries to the UK and France in peak periods
• Faster ferries to the UK
• Investing in three new ferries by 2032
• Two dedicated high-speed ferries for the summer."
Economic Development Minister Deputy Kirsten Morel said: “I’m delighted we have signed a contract with DFDS which will enable us to provide the best possible ferry services for Islanders for the next 20 years.”
DFDS was announced as the winning bidder of a Jersey-only tender process on 3 December. That followed a fast-tracked process to choose an operator after a protracted joint tender with Guernsey ended, with Guernsey having opted for Brittany Ferries - majority shareholder of Condor Ferries.
Brittany Ferries is taking legal action against the Minister. DFDS is contesting the case. A further court hearing is expected mid-January.
DFDS is yet to publish its final timetable for spring/summer 2025, releasing only a provisional summer schedule so far.
It said last week it was still working with the relevant port authorities and expected to be able to provide details at 'the beginning of the new year'.
Sailings to St Malo and Poole will be onboard one of two high-speed vessels - the Levante Jet and Tarifa Jet.
The Stena Vinga conventional ferry will operate Jersey - Portsmouth.
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