THE Danish shipping giant which will run Jersey’s ferry services next year has unveiled the first vessel that will form part of the fleet.
DFDS announced yesterday that Stena Vinga, a 125-metre vessel with capacity for 400 people and 200 cars, is to carry both freight and passengers between St Helier and Portsmouth from 28 March. By contrast, the Commodore Clipper, which currently serves the route, carries 300 passengers and 100 cars, according to Condor’s website.
The boat, which is currently used by the Swedish-based company Stena Line on its routes in Scandinavia, is described as a “RoPax” ferry, combining the features of a cruise ship and night cabins with a roll-on/roll-off ferry.
Chris Parker, Jersey route director for DFDS, said the vessel would provide five return trips per week during peak season, with evening departures from Jersey and morning departures from Portsmouth.
“We are pleased to introduce Stena Vinga to our Jersey fleet,” he said. “With this vessel we will be able to service both passengers and businesses who rely on freight transport and enable us to provide an efficient and reliable service.
“Stena Vinga was refurbished in 2019, and we look forward to welcoming passengers aboard and providing them with a comfortable travel experience and meeting the diverse needs of the Island.”
Two high-speed vessels are expected to join the new acquisition in the DFDS fleet, with a summer timetable for 2025 due to be published by the end of this week.
It is expected there will be up to 11 return trips between Jersey and Saint Malo per week, plus up to five weekly Jersey-Poole rotations.
Mr Parker added: “To accommodate high demand in peak season, the frequency of services will be increased to ensure that passengers have more options and flexibility when planning their travels.”
DFDS was announced as Jersey’s preferred bidder earlier this month, after Guernsey previously picked Brittany Ferries.
The Island’s new contract with DFDS is expected to be signed by the end of this week.
The Danish shipping firm previously outlined its hopes for a “smooth transition” and said it would seek to work with the authorities and incumbent operator Condor, which is owned by Brittany Ferries, to ensure this.
Vital stats
Stena Vinga was built in 2005 and is equipped with 40 cabins, a restaurant, a duty-free shop, a cinema and a recliner lounge. The RoPax vessel is a similar size to Condor’s primary vessel plying the Portsmouth route, the Commodore Clipper. The Clipper is four metres longer and six years older, with capacity for 100 fewer passengers. Both boats have a “beam” (width) of 23.4 metres and a top speed between 18 and 19 knots. The respective freight capacities of the two vessels, measured in “lane metres”, are 1,500 (Stena Vinga) and 1,265 (Clipper).
