Condor Ferries acquires new vessel for passengers and freight

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Daniel Face

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Condor’s purchase of a second roll-on, roll-off ferry will improve connectivity between the UK, France and the Channel Islands.

Currently operating as the MV Straitsman in New Zealand, the 125-metre ferry is set to offer a weather resistant overnight service across the Channel from Autumn 2023, following berthing trials in Guernsey and Jersey later this year. It will also carry freight from Portsmouth.

The vessel was built in 2005 to a RoPax design, combining features of a cruise ship with roll-on, roll-off capabilities for private and commercial vehicles. With capacity for 400 passengers, it closely resembles the Commode Clipper, which already operates on the same routes.

Condor said the new ferry would “provide resilience, add capacity and improve connectivity” on key routes. CEO John Napton added that the purchase, which comes after delays driven by limited availability and the pandemic, underlined their commitment to freight, connectivity and tourism.

Daniel Face

Born and raised in Berkshire, Dan fell into journalism after completing his bachelor’s degree in English at UCL. Writing for The Business Magazine and local Biz News sites has given him the opportunity to chat with all manner of small business owners and share their success stories with a wider audience. Outside of work, Dan enjoys live music, board games and quiz shows, and is making a slow but persistent effort to learn Spanish.