Condor said that it will provide a further update for weekend travel before 12 pm on Thursday.
Meanwhile, ministers have said they have asked the ferry operator for an ‘urgent explanation’ after it emerged that the high-speed ferry is currently detained in Poole following a joint investigation by the Maritime and Coastguards.
In a statement Condor said: ‘Tuesday’s routine annual inspection of Condor Liberation by the MCA and Affaires Maritimes coincided with planned repair and maintenance to the propulsion and steering systems on a non-sailing day. Consequently, the MCA found that until these systems were back in working order, the ship would be subject to a detention order. As is usual, a number of other matters were identified during the inspection, all of which will also be rectified before the ship returns to service.
‘Once the repairs are complete, as a result of the order, the ship will undergo re-inspection by the MCA (and all our port states), our classification body (DNV-GL) and our flag state (the Bahamas). Regrettably, the need for re-inspection following the successful completion of the repairs and maintenance means that our operating schedule will be disrupted for at least part of this weekend’
Condor added that the Liberation was ‘expected to return to service in a matter of days’, with the exact date expected to be confirmed on Thursday.
