Jersey Post trials new route ahead of Brexit

Friday 29 March 2019

Delays to Brexit have not stopped Jersey Post from trialling viable alternative routes from Jersey into Europe for locally-based eCommerce clients.

In light of potential post-Brexit complications, Jersey Post recently investigated a new route with Ferryspeed and Condor Ferries, where a consignment was shipped to St. Malo, before being driven to Holland the next day, in under 48 hours door-to-door.

Jersey Post says the model gives them a base to work from over the next few weeks to ensure "a robust and resilient solution" for eCommerce clients.

Last year, Jersey Post handled 4.7million items on behalf of such clients - 4.2million (90%) of which were destined for Europe.

Pictured: Jersey Post say the method they trialled took just 48 hours.

All items destined for European delivery currently leave Jersey and travel north to the UK before accessing Europe via the Channel Tunnel. These items travel as post, under simplified customs clearance procedures thanks to the postal service's bilateral agreements with other Universal Postal Union member states.

After Brexit, this could potentially become a congested route with risks of considerable delays due to additional potential border controls, customs clearance and subsequent delays that will jeopardise eCommerce supplier agreements.

Niall McClure, Jersey Post’s Managing Director for Postal and Logistics, said: “With the level of uncertainty surrounding Brexit showing no sign of slowing, we’ve been working tirelessly to provide our clients with alternative routes into Europe. Whatever the implications of Brexit, we’re confident that we will have solutions in place that will enable locally-based eCommerce businesses to trade freely with EU customers.”

There is also the potential for Jersey Post to access certain French airports direct from Jersey, which could provide a next-day or even same-day mail service for documents and correspondence.