Freight vessel contract agreed for Jersey

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPC) has secured a long-term charter for one of its freight vessels which will sail predominantly between Jersey and Portsmouth.

The vessel, Arrow, will operate for 12 months with DFDS, the firm that operates Jersey's ferry services between the island, UK and France.

DFDS and Jersey's government signed a contract in December with the contract set to start from 28 March.

IOMSPC managing director Brian Thomson said: "We're pleased to have secured a long term charter for Arrow with a renowned international operator such as DFDS."

He added: "This gives us security while the future fleet strategy is agreed with our stakeholders."

Arrow was purchased by IOMSPC in September 2022 as a back-up freight vessel to the Ben-my-Chree, the company's main vessel at the time, for about £8 million.

But in 2023, the company purchased a £78m vessel known as Manxman, IOMSPC's first new passenger and freight ferry since 1998.

It signalled the end for the Ben-my-Chree as the island's main ferry which had now been retained for back-up passenger and freight services.

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