Latest news with #MVArrow
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jersey traders 'anxious' as DFDS freight ferries arrive
Businesses in Jersey have said they are "nervous" as DFDS takes over the island's passenger and freight first DFDS freight ferry, the MV Arrow, arrived at 05:10 GMT as the company's 20-year contract to run services to and from Jersey Jan Ramsay said it had been "extremely stressful" trying to prepare for the new freight service and working out what it was going to be Parker, DFDS's route director for Jersey, said the firm was keen to make sure it gets the freight service right and would be willing to talk to business owners who had concerns. Ms Ramsay, who owns Oasis Florist in St Brelade, said her business was very reliant on freight services with up to four deliveries a week - and some disruption had already been caused."We are very anxious and it's already caused a bit of a problem because we should have had our main deliveries come in on Friday, but we could get no delivery on Friday, so we now have flowers coming on Thursday and Saturday," she said."It's our busiest time of the year so it's causing problems, not just for me, but for every florist on the island."It's a bit of a drama already." Fellow florist Marc Simon, who owns Floralies in St Helier, said he relied on a freight boat every morning to deliver fresh flowers from the Simon said he has been nervous about DFDS taking over freight routes because he did not know what time boats would be arriving until said he had his fingers crossed his first delivery from DFDS gets in on Saturday."I've had to do a bit of panic buying ahead of Mother's Day, as we've got lots of deliveries to do on Sunday - it's going to be a very busy day," he said. Flo Aranda, sales director at pub and restaurant company Randalls, said he still does not know what freight fees the firm will be said it would be offering a flat rate for businesses to pay for freight services it was Aranda said the rates were among his main concerns with the changeover and there remained a "lot of uncertainty" with how DFDS would operates its services."Any change for anyone is quite concerning and a fear of the unknown is always present," he added."We're a little bit like that as well but hoping everything will be plain sailing." Mr Parker said DFDS had been working with logistic companies and retailers across the island to get the freight schedules said there had been some adjustments to the services in the lead-up to taking over the service, but the company would happily talk to concerned business owners."We will work with all of our customers to make sure we get that right in future," he said."We are on the first day of a 20-year contract, we are going to work very hard to make sure we get that service right."
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Man's MV Arrow charted to Channel Islands for a year
Manx back-up freight vessel MV Arrow will operate a year-long charter in the Channel Islands, the government-owned ferry firm has of Man Steam Packet Company said the agreement would come into force on 24 March, after the return of the Ben-my-Chree from dry Steam Packet said the freight vessel would undergo port trials and pilotage training before entering service, when it was expected to operate on the Jersey to Portsmouth BBC has approached Danish ferry operator DFDS, who the contract has been signed with, for a comment. Currently based in Douglas, the MV Arrow can carry 66 14m (46ft) trailers and accommodate 12 was bought by the Steam Packet for about £8m in 2022 as a back-up freight vessel for the island's then flagship ferry, the it has remained an option for the firm since the arrival of the Manxman in July 2023, under the company's sea services agreement with the Manx government the former flagship ferry must be retained for back-up passenger and freight services. 'Future fleet strategy' Jersey's government signed a contract with DFDS to operate ferry services in the Channel Islands in March 28 the Danish firm is set to take over the contract from previous provider Condor Ferries, which had also used the MV Arrow to increase freight will travel to Teeside for its own dry-docking before its charter with DFDS following the return of the Ben-my-Chree to Manx waters next Packet managing director Brian Thomson said the year-long charter would take place while the firm "future fleet strategy" was agree, he said.A committee of Manx politicians recently recommended a new sea services framework should be developed for the Isle of Man by the end of 2025. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
