Clipper passengers 'stuck on board in harbour for almost an hour'

FOOT passengers on the Condor Clipper were made to wait almost an hour before disembarking in St Peter Port, it was claimed yesterday.

When the company's fast ferry was cancelled due to strong winds on Sunday evening, the Clipper was drafted in as a replacement.

It left Jersey at 9pm and arrived in St Peter Port just after 11.15pm, but it was not until after midnight that foot passengers began to emerge through the arrivals hall.

The 52 individuals involved were told to wait on the vehicle deck before being transferred in groups by minibus to the terminal.

A Condor spokesman said that because the Clipper had docked at berth one, it was outside the secure zone used by the fast ferry. It had therefore been necessary to transfer the unusually high number of foot passengers on the service by minibus.

He said the ferry docked at 11.30pm and all those onboard had disembarked by midnight - but passengers on the service disagreed and some said they were still waiting to be transported to the terminal after that time.