DFDS has published details of its freight sailings linking Jersey, Portsmouth and St Malo, including a new flat rate that the operator says will bring greater transparency to the logistics of importing and exporting goods.
With effect from 28 March, when the Danish company takes up its new contract for services to and from the Island, the freight vessel MV Arrow will make six return sailings a week between Jersey and Portsmouth, as well as a weekly southbound trip to and from St Malo.
Confirmation of a flat rate of £56 per metre of space on the vessel follows discussions between DFDS and government economists seeking to assess the impact of pricing for the “lifeline” service on food prices.
The resulting agreement formed part of the new contract.
During a joint briefing to media yesterday, [wed],the government said that analysis indicated a very small increase in food prices, calculated to be a maximum of 0.4%, would result from the new rate.
However, government sources said that transparent pricing would “peel away a layer” of detail around freight transportation and open up the possibility of competition on the route.
Any future increase in the freight rate would be capped at the rate of inflation, it was confirmed.
The exact rates currently charged by Condor Ferries, which will provide the existing links until the end of its contract in just over five weeks’ time, are not known but it is believed the rates vary as a result of volume.
DFDS route director Chris Parker said the schedule had been produced following extensive discussions with stakeholders, with the final version receiving “fantastic feedback” from those involved.
The MV Arrow – which is 122 metres long and has a capacity of 1,057 lane metres – will sail overnight from Portsmouth to Jersey, arriving in St Helier Harbour the following morning and then make a daytime return trip to the south of England.
On Saturdays, after docking in St Helier, the vessel will be deployed on the weekly St Malo service before resuming its Portsmouth sailings on Sunday.
Mr Parker said there would be additional freight capacity on the Stena Vinga, which will carry passengers and freight on the Portsmouth route, as well as to and from St Malo on the fast ferry Tarifa Jet.
He said: “We would like to thank Islanders for their patience ahead of freight timetables being agreed.
“We hope this marks a positive step forward for the Island, with DFDS adopting this new structure to demonstrate a long-sighted commitment to connecting Jersey with its trade partners.
“We shall of course, continue to improve and refine our services, working with the community, but are pleased to be moving forward with operations.”
Chief government economist Tom Holvey said: “A move to a published flat rate card is encouraging.
“It will promote competition in the island, provide openness of this element of the vital supply chain, and remove a barrier to market entry, which over time will help keep prices as low as possible for islanders.
“If this did result in short-term price pressures, these would be expected to be below half a percentage point according to our calculations.”
