Now it is official: the two Channel Islands, Jersey and Guernsey, will each have a separate ferry company deserving each island.
Early December 2024, the Government of Guernsey has signed a contract with Brittany Ferries for 15 years. Brittany Ferries is the parent company of Condor Ferries.
End of December, the Government of Jersey has signed a contract with DFDS for 20 years.
A DFDS news release explains:
- Under the contract, DFDS will provide passenger and freight services to the UK and France: routes from Jersey to Poole, Portsmouth and Saint Malo.
- Two primary focus areas for the ferry operation: life-line freight and passenger services for Jersey residents and tourism.
- The last three quarters of 2025, the total number of passengers on the routes are expected to amount to around 400k of which more than half are related to tourism. The majority of freight volumes (mainly unaccompanied trailers) are transported between Portsmouth and Jersey.
- For the last three quarters of 2025, freight volumes are expected to amount to around 450k lane metres.
- The four ferries to be deployed include two HSCs (high-speed craft), one RoPax ferry, and one RoRo ferry.
- As part of the concession agreement, DFDS is planning to renew the deployed fleet through mainly introduction of new-buildings between 2030 and 2032.
Quid Saint-Malo?
Brittany Ferries submitted its schedules for 2025 to the Port of Saint-Malo on 14 November, one day earlier than DFDS. As a result, Brittany – Condor Ferries is given scheduling priority for the Port of Saint-Malo in 2025.
It will be interesting to see how Saint-Malo copes with the berthing arrangements for the different competitors.
Remark:
As of December 2023, the estimated populations of the two main Channel Islands are:
- Jersey: approximately 103,650 residents.
- Guernsey: approximately 64,781 residents.
- Bailiwick of Guernsey includes Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Herm.
Photo: Mike Louagie
