The proposal was submitted in February to operate the inter-island service, but after engagement with Guernsey Ports and Customs & Immigration, and evaluation of the impacts, the committee said it could not approve the proposal in its current form.
It said that the schedule proposed by DFDS presented operational and resourcing challenges to Guernsey Ports and Customs & Immigration.
The proposed arrivals on Friday evenings would fall outside the standard operating hours and would have a knock-on effect on operations for Saturday sailings.
The ship would have travelled from Jersey on a Friday evening, then gone directly on to the UK, and returned to Jersey via Guernsey on a Monday.
DFDS has been criticised for operating an erratic inter-island service, running inconsistently on Mondays, and with Brittany Ferries only going inter-island on a Wednesday, the lack of a car-carrying service has been criticised in both islands.
‘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,’ said committee president Sasha Kazantseva-Miller.
‘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.
‘The committee has reiterated its position about the importance of working collaboratively with both DFDS and the States of Jersey directly or as part of the inter-island ferry group to identify future opportunities that enhance inter-island connectivity, while ensuring fairness, sustainability and consistency with Guernsey’s operational requirements.’
In its assessment, Economic Development considered the potential effects on existing ferry services and the operation of Guernsey’s harbour infrastructure.
It said it also gave regard to the political context surrounding inter-island connectivity, including commitments made in Jersey in recent months to push for a better service between the islands, and whether DFDS’ selected vessel, the Stena Vinga, would be consistently available to complete the sailing.
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