MV Mistral arrives for berthing trials
ANOTHER berthing trial for one of the three shortlisted ferry companies to run Channel Islands services took place this morning.
DFDS’ MV Mistral arrived in St Peter Port from Portsmouth shortly before 8.30am and was in Guernsey for less than an hour before heading to Jersey.
The 25-year-old ship is the third vessel to be trialled in the Channel Islands by the Danish company in the past year, following on from the Seven Sisters at the beginning of this month and the Finlandia Seaways in December last year.
It is understood that the MV Mistral has been chartered by DFDS until the end of 2024.
It is 153m long, almost 21m wide and 14m in depth.
MV Mistral is not the largest ship that the company has trialled in Guernsey and Jersey, which was the 163m-long Finlandia Seaways, but it is 10m longer than the Seven Sisters.
It appeared that the ferry was untroubled in getting alongside at the harbour, but some logistical differences meant the vessel’s ramp and the harbour ramp did not align.
This meant that the Mistral was not docked against the harbour wall, which could pose some problems in windy or rough sea conditions.
The ramp to the top deck also could not be used as the harbour ramp was not wide enough.
MV Mistral required a tug boat during the berthing trial.
There was speculation raised at the harbour that the ship would require a tug, which the island does not have, each time if it returned to the island. DFDS was asked to clarify but did not respond in time for publication.
Some people in the area may have heard a loud bang and assumed the ferry hit something as it docked, but crews on board the vessel had to use a line launcher for the ropes.
The trial took place as part of the ongoing contingency planning process between the governments of Guernsey and Jersey.
It is expected that an announcement on the winner of the Channel Islands' ferry services contract for the next 15 years will be made before the end of the month.
