The embattled firm launched in March but a series of problems with the vessel led to the authorities in Jersey, Guernsey and France to stop sailings at times. The vessel also crashed into another ferry owned by rival firm Condor. Most of the difficulties experienced by the HD1 resulted because she was operating on three engines rather than four. However, that did not prevent HD Ferries from beating their first year target of carrying over 160,000 people between the Channel Islands and France.
