HIGH-SPEED Poole sailings with DFDS’s Levante Jet vessel will be paused from November until the end of April, the operator has revealed as it yesterday [TUESDAY] announced its winter schedule.
DFDS’s Jersey route director, Chris Parker, said that the ferry company understood the decision “will impact Islanders and disappoint some travellers” and was “sorry about the inconvenience this will cause”.
The operator has confirmed its winter ferry schedule for all Jersey routes through to 10 January, with 118 scheduled departures between the Island and the UK and 88 departures between Jersey and St Malo.
Freight services will also continue with 110 crossings via the Caesarea Trader.
Schedules for January 11 onwards are currently being “finalised”, but DFDS expects to offer around 850 crossings between April and August across the three routes to the UK and France.
The ferry company also revealed that it will “temporarily pause” its high-speed Poole sailings with its Levante Jet vessel between November and 30 April, due to “lower passenger numbers during the winter season”.
“Tarifa Jet will go to dry-dock in November and Levante Jet will cover the St Malo service,” the statement continued.
“Following Tarifa Jet’s return Levante Jet will lay up until it returns to provide the peak summer schedule for the Poole route. Tarifa Jet will provide additional sailings to Poole over the Easter period.”
Mr Parker said: “Our winter timetable is designed to meet demand while delivering a dependable service for Islanders.
“Between November and March we will be offering capacity for up to 77,000 passengers to travel between Jersey and the UK, and up to 134,000 passengers between Jersey and France, well above the historical demand for these services over the winter.”
Commenting on the scheduled pause of the high-speed Poole sailings, Mr Parker said: “We understand that this decision will impact Islanders and disappoint some travellers, and we are sorry about the inconvenience this will cause.
“We are focusing on delivering a long term sustainable service for Jersey including investment in future tonnage for the Island.”
