CONDOR’S new conventional passenger and freight ferry has arrived in the Channel Islands for the first time.
MV Condor Islander made its way to St Peter Port first and was due to arrive in St Helier yesterday.
The vessel, which is similar in size and speed to Commodore Clipper, is expected to sail between Jersey, Guernsey, Portsmouth, St Malo and Cherbourg when she joins Condor’s fleet this autumn.
Islander was bought by Condor in April and had previously been undergoing engineering work in Santander, Spain. The vessel’s internal refurbishment is due to be finished in the UK.
It previously operated between the North and South islands of New Zealand under the name MV Straitsman.
Yesterday a Condor spokesperson said: ‘We are obviously delighted to see Islander arrive in the Channel Islands and will be conducting berthing trials in Guernsey, Jersey, St Malo and Portsmouth over the next few days.
‘The trials were always planned for today and the inclement weather has provided a good test of the vessel, our crews and procedures.
‘She will enter service in October and, in the interim, we will continue the internal refurbishment of Islander in Poole.’
