DFDS has announced that its freight and passenger ship Stena Vinga will be used for sailings between Jersey and St Malo while issues with the high-speed vessel that was meant to operate the route are addressed.
The Danish shipping firm said that customers with existing bookings would be contacted with information about the resulting schedule changes and alternative options.
DFDS began its Jersey operations on Friday, but had to cancel its first sailings on the French route due to technical issues with Tarifa Jet, one of its fast ferries.
In an update, the shipping company said the vessel is scheduled to come back into service next week.
“With the Easter holidays starting, our Stena Vinga vessel will operate on the Jersey-St Malo route from Thursday to Monday, with up to two rotations daily to accommodate all passengers,” the statement continued.
“Our schedules on this route will therefore change, and all customers with existing bookings will be contacted with details of these changes or alternative options.
“Updated schedules will be visible in our online booking platform within 24 hours.”
It explained that a “replacement vessel” would be temporarily used for sailings between Jersey and Portsmouth – Stena Vinga’s planned route – with no schedule changes.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the statement added.
Chris Parker, DFDS route director for Jersey, said: “As we eagerly await the Tarifa Jet to come into service, we want to make sure that passengers are able to travel with as little disruption as possible.
“I’m sorry that we have to make these changes to the schedule for this weekend and I would like to thank islanders for their continued patience with us.”
DFDS has also said it will be adding more departures on the Easter Bank Holiday Monday.
The matter was also raised during yesterday’s sitting of the States Assembly, with Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham stating that he hoped Tarifa Jet would be back in service “within a week, or two weeks at the very most”.
In a statement provided to Express, a spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “The vessel is currently undergoing surveys for the issue of a passenger certificate.”