DFDS has responded to French media scrutiny over its crew employment practices on the St Malo route – stating it remains “fully committed” to ensuring its seafarers are employed under “the appropriate regime required by law and maritime regulation”.
The Danish shipping firm’s comments come in the wake of a France 3 Bretagne article, outlining maritime union concerns that some crew operating the route may not be registered with France’s maritime social security system ENIM.
However, DFDS pointed out that it operates different routes through different legal entities, depending on the contractual and regulatory requirements and the operational structure of each service.
“This is standard practice within the maritime industry,” the ferry operator said in a statement.
It explained that, for the service between Jersey and St Malo, the Tarifa Jet fast ferry sails under the UK flag, “which means we operate under the strict regulatory and employment framework required for UK-flagged vessels”.
“As a result, seafarers working on the Tarifa Jet are employed on UK salaries and terms and conditions, and receive a comprehensive package of social benefits in line with applicable legislation, regardless of their nationality or country of domicile,” the statement continued.
“This framework includes participation in a UK pension scheme.”
DFDS also noted that it was “actively committed” to recruitment and skills development in the regions that it operates in.
“In July 2025, we held our first careers at sea day in Jersey and are actively seeking to recruit islanders to work both shore-side and onboard our vessels,” a spokesperson said.
“In addition, next week DFDS will host a recruitment fair in St Malo on 4 February to attract seafarers from the region who are seeking careers at sea.”
The company highlighted its “strong French maritime presence” beyond the Jersey-St Malo services, operating five French-flagged vessels and employing approximately 800 French seafarers.
“DFDS was among the first operators on the English Channel to take a stand against social dumping and to drive improvements in seafarers’ pay, terms and conditions of employment, both in the UK and in France,” the statement added.
“We remain fully committed to ensuring that all our seafarers are employed under the appropriate regime required by law and maritime regulation.”
