Connections with UK need urgent action

Yet, if you checked the available ferry trips for w/c 9 March, there was no service from the Commodore Clipper, leaving us with only the Liberation, which is never reliable, particularly in the winter months when it doesn’t come out if it’s windy.

But it was even worse, because the Liberation was only scheduled for Monday 9 and Friday 13.

So, there was no sea link between Guernsey and the UK on 10, 11, 12, 14 or 15 March. This is abysmal service.

What are Condor’s new owners doing (do they even care?). If the Clipper is out of service they should hire a replacement vessel to maintain our ‘lifeline’ service to and from the UK.

Condor Ferries is an ageing fleet. The Commodore Clipper is 21 years old, the Goodwill (freight) is 24 years old, the Rapide is 23 years old and only the Liberation is a new vessel, at 10 years old.

The whole fleet urgently needs replacing and, as Condor sold two of the original three UK ferries, we need additional ships to bring back a regular service to the UK.

As a minimum we should have another ship like the Commodore Clipper, as this is our only reliable ferry – although, due to its age, even the Clipper has broken down twice already this year (due to problems with its ramp).

The States needs to address this problem with urgency, and if Condor’s new owners refuse to bring in new vessels, we should consider purchasing our own ferry (on the UK route) to supplement the Condor service. There are second-hand ferries available.

C. RYAN

Redroofs,

Les Traudes,

St Martin’s,

GY4 6LR.

Editor’s footnote: Ian Le Moigne, Condor Ferries, replies:

Thank you for the points raised by your correspondent. We are happy to clarify the position on the maintenance and replacement of our fleet.

Each year we publish a plan detailing when our four ships are placed in dry dock to undergo essential servicing. This work is always carried out during the off-peak season and in excess of £7m.is spent annually on repairs and maintenance across the fleet.

Commodore Clipper required essential work for five days and the work was completed last weekend, so she is ready – alongside our other ships – to support the seasonal visitor economy in the islands and provide lifeline freight services and essential travel for islanders, which form our three key responsibilities.

Whilst Clipper was out of service, a back-up vessel, the chartered MV Arrow, provided the freight capacity required, as it is always our aim to respond to the needs of customers. Condor Liberation also ran an additional round trip last Wednesday to accommodate passengers and their vehicles between the islands and Poole.

In terms of fleet replacement, we have committed to investing in excess of £50m. in replacing Condor Rapide as she reaches her planned end of service in around five years’ time. Condor is also in discussions with the States to potentially bring forward the retirement of Commodore Goodwill, our freight vessel, and introduce a ‘ro-pax’ ship, similar to Commodore Clipper.