A ferry usually bound for France strayed off its normal route today bound for the Channel Islands.

The Seven Sisters ship, which usually carries passengers and vehicles from Newhaven to Dieppe, in France, set sail towards Jersey Port today after a request from government officials.

Its operator, Danish firm DFDS, is one of three companies earmarked to run the Channel Islands ferry service after the current contract with Condor Ferries expires next year.

The Seven Sisters in portThe Seven Sisters in port (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

Ahead of the government's decision on who will run the services, the maritime business is conducting trials today and tomorrow in the ports of Jersey and Guernsey to see whether its vessels and services are suitable for the islands.

Ferries currently run to the Channel Islands from both Poole and Portsmouth, taking around three hours on the shortest journey. Passengers can also reach the French city of Saint-Malo from the islands.

The Seven Sisters makes up half of DFDS's daily ferry service from the Sussex coast to the continent, but in the winter season its sister ship Cote d’Albatre is the only vessel in operation.

A spokeswoman for the firm said: "There is no impact on the service that DFDS is offering on the Newhaven-Dieppe route, which continues as it usually does with a one-ship operation between October and May."

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The next ferry operator in the Channel Islands will run the service for the next 15 years. A decision is expected later this month, with DFDS up against existing operator Condor. It is also understood Irish Ferries are in the running.

The DFDS spokeswoman added: "At this stage, the result of the Channel Island ferry service tender is not known, and it is too early to speculate on what the service requirements routes may be.

"DFDS has an extensive route network with more than 50 ships operating around Europe and we are confident that we have the capacity and capability to ensure that we meet the needs of our customers on existing routes and potential future service needs."