DFDS has signalled improvements to French day trips next year – but negotiations over Saint Malo’s single available berth remain a sticking point.

The Danish shipping firm’s route director for Jersey, Chris Parker, provided the update during a hearing with the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel this morning.

The Panel has started a review of Jersey’s ferry contract, which includes exploring some of the initial issues that have been raised since the Government awarded the agreement to DFDS at the end of last year.

During the hearing, Panel chair Deputy Montfort Tadier mentioned public criticism around arrival and departure times for day trips to France.

The schedule that we have put forward does give longer in general in France

DFDS route director for Jersey Chris Parker

Mr Parker said: “To a degree, we were constrained by access to berths and particular departure times, which didn’t help when it comes to setting up a schedule which gave sufficient time to have a day trip.”

He continued: “We have worked on that schedule through the year with ports and with the vessels, with an aim to try to stretch that – the length that we are in St Malo – for as long as possible.”

Pictured: DFDS fast ferry Tarifa Jet.

He also noted that DFDS had issued a calendar highlighting the days where day trips were possible this year, and would be doing this again for 2026.

Last year saw the approval of a major project to modernise Saint Malo’s ageing ferry terminal and improve the harbour area, which was deemed “essential” for the future of the port by the mayor, Gilles Lurton.

But the work has temporarily meant only one berth is available – something DFDS has previously said it was aware of and was “working on plans to ensure schedules align with other providers and the ports”.

Mr Parker described the situation as a “complex equation” and said the ferry operator was still “in discussion” with the French port “around deconfliction of that single birth”.

Pictured: DFDS route director for Jersey, Chris Parker

“The schedule that we have put forward does give longer in general in France, but we need to get that deconflicted,” he explained.

Deputy Tadier also raised questions over whether Brittany Ferries would be given “preference” on the French berth, as “one of their own national companies”.

Mr Parker said: “Any port is a commercial enterprise and it’s fair to say that there is an understanding within the region as well that Jersey is still two-thirds of the traffic from the Channel Islands, coming through St Malo, either from Jersey or going to Jersey.

“We are a significant source of income and significant source of tourism for St Malo in particular, so there is a recognition of that.

“In the end it comes back to, the ports are the ultimate authority – they will make the decision, they are making that decision, with a view to both the best public good and best commercial result.

“So I don’t feel that we are somehow treated any differently to any other operator.”

Related