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DFDS has unveiled the first vessel to form part of the fleet that will provide ferry services to and from Jersey next year.
Stena Vinga, a 125-metre long vessel with capacity for 400 people and 200 cars, will carry both freight and passengers between St Helier and Portsmouth once DFDS launches its Jersey services on 28 March next year.
Currently operating for the Swedish-based company Stena Line on its routes in Scandinavia, the vessel is described as a "RoPax" ferry, combining the features of a cruise ship and night cabins with a roll-on/roll-off ferry.
Stena Vinga was built in 2005 and is equipped with 40 cabins, a restaurant, a duty-free shop, a cinema and a recliner lounge.
Pictured: Chris Parker will be moving to the island to become director of DFDS's new Jersey route.
Chris Parker, Jersey route director for DFDS, said the vessel would provide five return trips per week during peak season, with evening departures from Jersey and morning departures from Portsmouth.
“We are pleased to introduce Stena Vinga to our Jersey fleet," he said. "With this vessel we will be able to service both passengers and businesses who rely on freight transport and enable us to provide an efficient and reliable service.
"Stena Vinga was refurbished in 2019, and we look forward to welcoming passengers aboard and providing them with a comfortable travel experience and meeting the diverse needs of the island.”
Two high-speed vessels are expected to join the new acquisition in the DFDS fleet, with a summer timetable for 2025 set to be published by the end of this week.
It is expected there will be up to 11 return trips between Jersey and Saint Malo per week, plus up to five weekly Jersey-Poole rotations.
Mr Parker added: “To accommodate high demand in peak season, the frequency of services will be increased to ensure that passengers have more options and flexibility when planning their travels.”
FOCUS: What happens now that DFDS has won the ferry tender?
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