MV Condor Islander explained

MV Condor Islander should not be confused with MV Straitsman (1972).

MV Condor Islander is a roll-on/roll-off ferry owned by Condor Ferries. She previously bore the names MS Dueodde and MV Straitsman.

History

Condor Islander was built in the style of Van der Giessen de Noord's vessels, alongside her sister ship, Stena Vinga, known then as MS Hammerodde.

Bornholmstrafikken

Condor Islander entered service with Bornholmstrafikken in 2005 as MS Dueodde. Alongside Hammerodde, she operated routes linking Bornholm with the Danish mainland.

StraitNZ

In 2010, the vessel was sold and shortly entered service with StraitNZ and was renamed MV Straitsman in recognition of StraitNZ's first vessel, which was in service for 11 years from when the company first launched in 1992.^[1]

Condor Ferries

In March 2023, it was confirmed that the vessel had been secured by Condor Ferries in the UK for services between Portsmouth and the Channel Islands.^[2] Shortly afterward, it was announced that the vessel would be renamed as Condor Islander.^[3]

In July 2023, the vessel arrived in the Channel Islands after several weeks in a dry dock in El Astillero, in the north of Spain. Following refurbishment, she entered service in October 2023.

Accidents and issues in service

StraitNZ

• In July 2016, a truck and B-train trailer unit aboard the Straitsman snapped its lashings and fell overboard off the coast of Island Bay.^[4]
• On 24 February 2023, a crewmember was hit by a truck reversing onboard at Wellington, causing delays. The crewmember suffered bruising and a broken wrist.^[5]

Condor Ferries

• Upon introduction to the Condor fleet, the first sailing for Condor Islander was scheduled to take place in November 2023 however, it was brought forward to October 2023 with freight services starting on the 8th and both passenger and freight services on the 15th. It was then pushed back again to 20 October 2023 because of the late installation of vital equipment.^[6]
• Due to the conditions of Storm Babet, Condor Islander's first sailing with passengers on 20 October 2023 was canceled and pushed back to the 22rd of the same month.
• On 23 October 2023, the inter-island service from Guernsey to Jersey was canceled due to technical problems. The sailing onto Portsmouth departed from Guernsey instead, much earlier than anticipated^[7]
• On 25 October 2023, it was discovered that there were faults with the front bow thrusters of the ship and that they would need repairing. It was announced that the vessel would be pulled out of service until the 2nd November of the same year and all scheduled sailings were canceled.^[8]
• On 3 July 2024, Condor Islander came into contact with one of the Saint Helier Harbour walls during strong winds, upon arrival in Jersey. The vessel remained in the harbour overnight before continuing its sailing onto Guernsey. There was recorded damage to both the Condor Islander and the east berth of the harbour.^[9]

External links

• Strait Shipping - Straitsman information

Notes and References

1. Web site: New Cook Strait Ferry Showered with Welcome | Scoop News .
2. Web site: Condor Ferries secures new passenger and freight vessel for Portsmouth-Channel Islands routes . 8 March 2023 . 8 March 2023.
3. https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2023-03-17/condor-reveal-name-of-new-channel-islands-vessel
4. News: Marty . Sharpe . Tommy . Livingston . 18 July 2016 . Trailer unit goes overboard after breaking free on Bluebridge Straitsman ferry . Stuff.co.nz . 2 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171107040649/http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/82204547/truck-goes-overboard-after-breaking-free-on-the-straitsman-ferry . 7 November 2017 . live . dmy-all .
5. Web site: Staff member breaks wrist in truck incident on Bluebridge ferry . 24 February 2023 . 4 April 2023.
6. Web site: Condor Islander start date delayed. 6 October 2023.
7. Web site: First inter-island ferry service canceled . 23 October 2023.
8. Web site: Condor Islander temporarily withdrawn from service due to tech issue. 25 October 2023.
9. Web site: More than 100 Condor Ferries passengers stuck in Jersey overnight after vessel hits harbour wall. 4 July 2024.