FOUR weeks before taking over the contract for Jersey freight and passenger ferry links, Danish operator DFDS has defended its pricing structure.
Following media analysis in Guernsey suggesting that passenger fares between Jersey and the south of England would be higher than the shorter crossing from St Peter Port to Poole and Portsmouth, DFDS has moved to clarify its position.
The company’s route director for Jersey, Chris Parker, said DFDS operated routes with dynamic pricing, meaning prices would vary depending on travel dates and vehicle types, meaning that for certain trips savings would be made, while on others prices would be higher.
“These prices have been set in line with the requirements of the tender and reflect DFDS’s commitment to offer increased capacity for travellers and more frequent departures to and from the Island,” he said.
Mr Parker said the company would also be seeking to set up a customer loyalty programme for frequent travellers, discounted offers and additional benefits.
He added: “DFDS is operating two high-speed craft to the UK and France, offering over 40% more departures between Jersey and St Malo compared to Guernsey’s French route.
“Guernsey residents will not be able to travel to France on day-trips from the end of March, an option that will be available from Jersey.
“We also have the flexibility to add additional departures to the schedules as required, something that has already started to happen in response to key dates, and inbound tourism requests.”
Freight pricing has also been in focus recently, with an admission by Jersey’s Economic Development Minister that customers could face a fuel surcharge on top of the “flat rate” pricing structure once DFDS commences its operations on 28 March.
Deputy Kirsten Morel was questioned about freight pricing during this week’s sitting of the States Assembly, with Members looking to establish further details about the costs for businesses.
The minister was asked by Deputy David Warr whether the capping of rates highlighted by DFDS when the company unveiled its pricing would cover total costs or not.
Deputy Morel said that the prices charged by current operator Condor, and both companies involved in the recent tender process – DFDS and Brittany Ferries – were all liable to include additional charges.
He admitted there was a “supplementary element” to the charging policy of DFDS, selected by Jersey following a tender process, to account for the potential volatility that could result from fluctuating fuel prices, but said that transparency would be a key element to this.
“Importantly the DFDS formula for working out this charge is published – for all their routes – on their website, so Islanders can see exactly how it’s worked out,” he said.
“They insist there’s no profit made on that surcharge, it’s purely based on excess fuel costs – that level of transparency is not there currently [with Condor].”
Asked by Deputy Jonathan Renouf if he was disappointed that the DFDS flat rate of £56 per metre of space would be higher than the current price for some businesses, Deputy Morel said: “I’m neither disappointed nor the opposite by that – what is important is that the prices are capped [to the rate of inflation] and that takes away surprises for the next 20 years
