DFDS’ new ferry service connecting the UK, France and Jersey launched on Friday 28 March 2025. The route provides a lifeline freight service to the largest of the Channel Islands and a passenger service that will help attract visitors to Jersey.
More than 235,000 passengers visited Jersey by sea in 2023 and the ferry company hopes to give tourism to the island a boost by offering a reliable, frequent connection with the UK.
The first ship to operate on the new service left Portsmouth at 09.00 today. Stena Vinga can carry up to 400 passengers and will make the round-trip to Jersey once a day, Monday to Saturday.
The company will also operate its first sailing between Saint Malo in France and the island. The route is served by a high-speed craft, Tarifa Jet, which can carry up to 700 passengers, with one sailing per day on the service initially, increasing to two per day at peak times.
Services between Poole and Jersey will start on 17 April 2025 with a regular daily return at peak times. The route will be operated by Levante Jet, a high-speed ferry which can carry up to 675 passengers.
DFDS was selected as the preferred bidder to provide ferry services to Jersey as part of a competitive tender carried out in 2024 and culminating in the award of the contract last December. It will provide freight and passenger services connecting the island with the UK and France over the next 20 years.
The company has recruited more than 50 local people to help run its services and the two fast ferries serving the route have been re-flagged to the UK ship register, helping to support UK seafarers’ jobs, with plans for new apprenticeships and cadetships on the route in future years.
Chris Parker, route director at DFDS, said: “We’ve worked hard in the three months since the Jersey contract was awarded to prepare for the launch of these new services, recruiting local people and setting up our operations on the island. We know how important it is that we are based on the island, listening to local people and responding to feedback as we build the future of these routes. We are committed to running an effective lifeline service for islanders and working hard with local partners to encourage tourism to the island.
“We have a long-term investment strategy that will ensure that, in partnership with the local government and the people of Jersey, we continue to develop the routes for many years to come by investing in new ships and optimising our schedules. We look forward to building a strong partnership with Jersey and serving the community.”
Photo by Darren Holdaway
