Guernsey rejects inter-island ferry proposal

Thursday, 16 April 2026 07:40

DFDS will not be running a weekend service between Jersey and Guernsey following a decision by the Economic Development Committee.

In February, Jersey's chosen ferry operator DFDS submitted a proposal to Guernsey's Economic Development Committee to run an inter-island ferry service.

The plan was for the Stena Vinga to travel from Jersey to Guernsey on Friday evenings and return on Monday afternoons.

Guernsey’s Economic Development Committee has rejected the plan after speaking with stakeholders.

They say it would be too disruptive, with the Friday evening arrivals taking place outside normal port operating hours, and suggest it could have a knock-on effect on Saturday freight and passenger sailings.

The Committee says the model submitted by DFDS differed from a commitment made by the States of Jersey for a day return sailing similar to the fast cat one operated by Brittany Ferries on a Wednesday.

Economic Development President, deputy Sasha Kazantseva Miller, says they remain open to exploring alternative arrangements with DFDS, the Government of Jersey and Brittany Ferries.

"We recognise the importance of strong and reliable inter-island connectivity, particularly at weekends, and we remain committed to improvements that genuinely benefit the Bailiwick as a whole

"In doing so, we have also been mindful of the political commitment made in 2025 to develop a reciprocal inter island service model, providing balanced, two-way connectivity between the Islands.

“However, having consulted closely with Guernsey Ports and Customs and Immigration, and having assessed the wider operational and service impacts, we are not able to approve the DFDS proposal in its current form.

“That said, the door is not closed, and we remain very open to further discussions on potential solutions that are operationally viable, legally robust and capable of delivering a genuinely reciprocal service, comparable to the high-speed return model currently offered by Brittany Ferries."