MV Mistral docks in Channel Island harbour

The MV Mistral is the third DFDS ship which has been trialled in the Channel Islands

A 153m (502ft) long ship has had a berthing trial in St Peter Port Harbour on Tuesday morning.

The MV Mistral, operated by ferry company DFDS, was brought to the island by the States of Guernsey and Government of Jersey as part of contingency planning by the two governments.

It's the third ship from Danish firm DFDS which has been trialled in Channel Island harbours.

DFDS is one of three firms which has been shortlisted to run ferry services in the Channel Islands for the next 15 years - the others are Condor and Irish Ferries.

Jersey's Minister for Sustainable Economic Development Kirsten Morel said an announcement on who had secured the contract was due this month.

The MV Mistral came from Portsmouth Harbour after a successful trial there

As part of the trial the ramp on the MV Mistral was lowered, and adjusted to line up with the access ramp at St Peter Port Harbour.

DFDS ship the Seven Sisters had a successful trial in Channel Island harbours in early October.

The first ship the company trialled at the harbour was the DFDS Finlandia which was 10m longer than the MV Mistral, and made contact with the St Peter Port harbour wall as it left the port.