Jersey’s New Freight Service Expected to Cause Slight Increase in Shop Prices

Supermarket prices in Jersey could see a modest increase of around 0.4% from March, as DFDS takes over the island’s freight services with a new flat-rate pricing model.

DFDS is set to replace Condor Ferries as the primary freight operator on 28 March and has now confirmed its shipping schedule. The company has chartered the MV Arrow, a Ro-Ro cargo vessel previously used as a backup for Channel Islands freight services. The ship will operate six round trips per week from Portsmouth, arriving early in the morning, along with a weekly import and export service to St Malo.

The MV Arrow is the final vessel to be added to DFDS’s Jersey fleet, joining the Stena Vinga, which will handle both passenger and freight transport, as well as the Levante Jet and Tarifa Jet, which will serve the Poole and St Malo routes respectively.

Transparent Pricing Model

As part of the government’s contract requirements, DFDS has introduced a flat-rate pricing structure for freight. The cost has been set at £56 per linear metre for goods transported on the MV Arrow and Stena Vinga, with a reduced rate of £45 for non-time-sensitive commodities.

According to the government’s Chief Economist, Thomas Holvey, this new model is expected to encourage competition and increase transparency in Jersey’s supply chain. While there may be some short-term price pressures, he estimated that the maximum potential impact on supermarket prices would be below 0.44%.

Investment in Future Vessels

DFDS has also outlined long-term plans to invest in three new vessels over the next eight years, with the Tarifa Jet set to be replaced first in 2028, followed by two more ships in 2030 and 2032. The company has indicated it will engage with stakeholders to determine the best design and capacity for future vessels, balancing freight and tourism needs.

The MV Arrow, which will take over from Condor’s Commodore Goodwill, has a capacity of 1,057 lane metres and measures 122 metres in length. DFDS has emphasised that its pricing model aims to keep costs manageable while ensuring the long-term sustainability of freight services.

Freight bookings for the new service will open on 3 March 2025, available online or through DFDS’s freight team.