THE start-up of DFDS’s Jersey operations “has proven harder than expected”, according to the Danish shipping giant’s outgoing chief executive – who said the ferry operator is working with the Island to ensure “a good service”.
Torben Carlsen, who is remaining in post until his successor his found, made the comments during one of the company’s conference call Q&A sessions while discussing the performance of a number of routes.
DFDS commenced its Jersey sailings at the end of March, three months after signing a 20-year contract to operate the Island’s ferry services to the UK and France.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel has previously stated that the ferry operator was forced into a “very ambitious” timescale by several factors that delayed the start of its Jersey services.
This, the minister has argued, included the breakdown of what was initially a joint procurement process with Guernsey, as well as legal action by losing bidder Brittany Ferries after DFDS won the subsequent Jersey-only tender.
The quality of the service that has since been delivered has faced criticism, with Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham stating in August that it “falls short of what was promised” and calling for “immediate clarity and improved delivery”.
Mr Carlsen said: “The start-up of Jersey has proven harder than expected.”
He cited “a very short timeline” caused by the tender process, which “had to be changed last minute by Jersey”.
Mr Carlsen added: “We are working with Jersey to see how we can agree different changes to both secure a good service to the Islanders and visitors, but also [so we] can ensure that we going forward, can deliver the results that were implied in the agreements we made with Jersey.”
His comments come less than two months after Deputy Morel said that Islanders “will continue to see more improvements” from DFDS.
Speaking at a Chamber of Commerce event in September, Deputy Morel noted that “there may be more challenges”, including St Malo’s major port redevelopment, but stated that DFDS was “committed to continuously delivering improvements on both routes next year”.
It also emerged this month that the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel will examine the terms of the ferry contract “to assess whether it will achieve the operational, service and economic outcomes expected by Islanders”.
