DFDS should speed up sailing between Jersey and France and there needs to be an independent review of a freight charging system that has driven up prices on the shelves five times more than the government said it would, a review has found.
The first official analysis of Jersey’s 20-year deal with the Danish operator – carried out by the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel – has concluded that the ‘flat-rate’ system of importing and exporting goods has had more of an impact on the cost of living that government economists predicted.
One of the review’s key findings is that evidence from retailers suggests that the flat rate increased food prices by 2% not the 0.4% suggested by the government.
Panel chair Deputy Montfort Tadier said it was “clear that the service Islanders and businesses are experiencing does not match the expectations they may have had”, going on to note that his panel “found that some areas of the contract do not contain concrete requirements which can lead to differences in how they are interpreted by each party”.
“While it is not possible at this stage for the contract to be renegotiated, there are mechanisms available that the minister can use to request variations, and we strongly recommend that he use them to address the concerns raised,” he added.
The panel also suggests that a future review be carried out “once sufficient time has passed to allow for comparisons to be made”.
Responding to the panel’s findings, DFDS said it recognised its first year “did not meet everyone’s expectations, particularly during the early mobilisation period”.
“What matters is the action taken since,” they added. “We have strengthened operational planning, refined timetables using real travel data, invested in onboard comfort and accessibility, and improved communication when disruption occurs.
“Scrutiny is an important part of accountability. Our priority for 2026 is clear: reliable sailings, fair pricing and a better overall journey experience.”
- More in Saturday’s JEP.
