transport requirements

For the booking of horses, initially the two forms below will need to be completed – 'CASH BOOKING REQUEST' and 'Channel Islands Animal Shipment Request Form'. These should be filled out to the best of your ability and returned to jersey.fbookings@dfds.com. The jersey.fbookings@dfds.com email is our primary method of booking ferries without an account and will go to a centre in the UK dedicated to making bookings for routes in and out of Jersey.

For shipments Jersey-UK, you will need:

• Your completed CI Animal Shipment Request Form
• A completed consignment note (blank and sample form attached), in the goods      description field please list the horse, its name, and its passport  number/ULI
• The horse passport available to view and be copied by port staff
• [TRAVEL TO UK] Customs clearance in place, you may use your customs broker of      choice, or DFDS typically recommends using Brittany Ferries. If you choose to use Brittany Ferries you must contact them prior to travel on ptm.imports@brittanyferries.gg or 02393  382710 with your travel details and the documents above
• [TRAVEL TO JERSEY] in addition to the above documents you will require a JCE375  form to be completed with the appropriate details. You may also make a      pre-arrival declaration at customs.gst.gov.je or via email at rgc@gov.je

For ease, please send copies of the above documents to jersey.super@dfds.com and Portsmouth.super@dfds.com prior to travel, quoting your booking number, as well as bringing the documents with you on the day of sailing.

There is some more pertinent information available below, and if you have any more in-depth questions jersey.fbookings@dfds.com will be able to answer them for you.

 Check-In Closure Times

Portsmouth → Jersey: 2 hours before departure

Jersey → Portsmouth: 2 hours before departure

Poole → Jersey: 1 hour 30 minutes before departure

Jersey → Poole: 1 hour 30 minutes before departure

St Malo → Jersey: 2 hours before departure

Pre-Departure Notification Process

Winter Season Advisory: During winter, adverse weather may affect sailings. The decision to transport horses is at the captain’s discretion, based on safety assessments. DFDS Customer Services does not have direct contact with vessel captains, so we ask that you follow the process below:

Please email the relevant Port Supervisor email address listed below 48 hours before departure with the following:

Email Subject Line: TRANSPORT OF HORSES – [Booking Reference] – [Departure Date] – [Departure Time] Example: TRANSPORT OF HORSES – 71234567 – 23/07/2025 – 09:00

Email Body:

Your full name

Contact telephone number

Confirmation of lashing points on your vehicle (location and quantity)*

*LASHING POINTS:  The lashing points would be great if they are available , but if the vehicle doesn’t have them and the sea is rough, crew onboard can use ratchet straps to lock it down.
If the horse box is under or max 6 meters , lashing point aren’t necessarily needed, if over 6 meters then yes, lashing points are needed. 

Please note: In some cases, shipment confirmation may only be possible up to 24 hours before departure.  

Transporting Horses – Documentation & Process

Please ensure you have all relevant documentation and customs approvals when transporting horses. 

UK ↔ Jersey:

Animal Shipment Form

Horse passport (must accompany the horse)

Consignment Note

Relevant customs documentation

JCE375 for importing into Jersey

France → Jersey:

Animal Shipment Form

Horse passport with Section IX completed

Export Health Certificate (EHC)

General licence

ATA Carnet (for temporary imports)

Consignment Note

Relevant customs documentation

Jersey → France:

Animal Shipment Form

Horse passport with Section IX completed

EU Health Certificate with master of the vessel declaration

ATA Carnet (for temporary imports)

Additional documents for unregistered horses signed by an Official Veterinarian

Transport authorisation

Certificate of competence

Vehicle approval certificate

Journey Log

Welfare in transport authorisations (for trailers/horse boxes)

Consignment Note

SIVEP authorisation required at least 24 hours before crossing

Relevant customs documentation

For any queries, contact the appropriate Port Supervisor using your booking reference and shipment date:

Port Supervisor Contacts:

Portsmouth Departures: portsmouth.super@dfds.com 

Poole Departures: poole.super@dfds.com 

Jersey Departures: jersey.super@dfds.com 

St Malo Departures: stmalo.super@dfds.com