Condor Ferries

[3] In a 2014 interview with the Guernsey Press, Dorey's son, Rupert recalled "it was a ballsy, risky thing to do to start the business in the first place in 1964, with no guarantees of success.

It made losses for two or three years but then they rolled the dice, decided to double up the service and buy another boat, it was one huge risk but it paid off.

"[4] Peter Dorey was lost at sea in a sailing accident whilst competing in the 1979 Fastnet Race,[5] with his interest passing to his wife, Tattie.

[6] Four years later, in 1983, Commodore Shipping acquired all remaining shares in Condor which it did not own, with David Norman being appointed managing director.

P&O European Ferries and Hoverspeed submitted bids to run the service but ultimately Condor retained the licence but was forced to purchase the Havelet to act as an all-weather back-up until the delivery of a new conventional vessel in 1999.

It also purchased the Condor Vitesse for a new service to St Malo via Guernsey and made Weymouth its primary UK port, though retaining summer sailings from Poole.

[12][13] It was announced on 4 October 2012 that Condor Logistics would close its operations with the loss of about 180 jobs (110 in the UK, 50 in Jersey and 20 in Guernsey).

[16] After being modified at Austal's Philippines yard, it entered service with Condor Ferries on 27 March 2015 operating out of Poole on the Dorset coast.

Rumors had surfaced for a few years beforehand when Deputy Peter Ferbrache, formerly the President of Guernsey's Committee for Economic Development, said in a Scrutiny hearing that the company was on the market.

[20] It was announced on 14 November 2019 that the European Sustainable Infrastructure Fund managed by Columbia Threadneedle Investments had purchased Condor, forming a consortium with Brittany Ferries, who also bought a minority stake in the company.

[21] In August 2024, it was announced that Brittany Ferries was set to become the majority owner pending the approval of regulators in Jersey and Guernsey.

[22] The proposed deal would see Brittany increase their stake from 29% to 51% with Columbia Threadneedle European Sustainable Infrastructure Fund retaining a minority shareholding.

[35] Condor Liberation had a number of cancelled sailings in her first weeks of service due to technical problems and adverse weather conditions: On its blog set up to promote the new ferry in the months before it entered service, Condor said that they expected the new ship's 'more stable design' would enable it to sail in considerably higher seas and to significantly reduce the number of weather-related cancellations.

[48] Speculation amongst the public that Condor Liberation was "at risk of capsizing in anything but the calmest weather" resulted in the publishing of an independent report by Houlder Limited which concluded that the maximum level of heel measured during wave rolling could be disconcerting to passengers but posed no threat to the safety of the vessel.

[48] The BBC reported on 11 June 2015 that Condor said they would "urge the public to refrain from intimidation" due to complaints being circulated on social media regarding members of staff.

He said: "I hope that this report will help us to draw a line under ill-informed speculation about the ship, which is not only damaging Condor Ferries' business but could potentially impact our Islands' reputation.

"[50] On 18 September 2015 Senator Farnham and Deputy Kevin Stewart, chairman of Guernsey's External Transport Group called for an urgent review of the service level agreement between the States and Condor.

[52] Houlder Limited's independent report published on 15 October 2015 also considered the reliability and ride comfort of Condor Liberation, concluding that the ship is suitable for operation in the English Channel.

Condor was forced to reactivate and purchase the Havelet in 1998 prior to the arrival of Commodore Clipper to act as back up for the fastcraft.

In June 2006 Rapide left the channel probably for the last time bound for a new career in the Mediterranean with Balearia Ferries, renamed Jaume II.

It was announced on 8 July 2021 that the Rapide had been sold to a Spanish ferry operator Trasmapi, with the Condor Voyager replacing the vessel.

[69] In a press release issued on 2 October 2007, HD Ferries stated that it was preparing to take legal action against Condor concerning the statement published by the company on 3 August 2007,[70] but this was not done.

[71] On 9 October 1994 Condor 11 was on sea trials off Tasmania and travelling at 36 knots under the command of Incat managing director Robert Clifford when she struck Black Jack Reef some 12 miles off Hobart.

[72] On 10 December 2007, bad weather caused the Commodore Goodwill to strike the entrance to La Collette yacht basin in St Helier harbour.

A fire broke out on the Commodore Clipper's lower vehicle deck in the early hours of 16 June 2010 whilst it was travelling from Jersey to Portsmouth.

[75] At approximately 0645 UTC on 28 March 2011 the Condor Vitesse was in collision with a Granville fishing boat, the 9.3m Les Marquises, in the vicinity of the Minquiers reef south of Jersey while en route from St Malo in foggy conditions.

In the wheelhouse almost continuous talks without any link with the watchkeeping, maintained an atmosphere not compatible with the necessary concentration to conduct a HSC in the fog.

"[86] On 11 September 2013 the court in Coutances found the Vitesse captain Paul Le Romancer and first officer Yves Tournon (both of whom no longer work for Condor) guilty of manslaughter, involuntary injury and failure to respect maritime regulations.

On 8 December 2022, the Commodore Goodwill had departed from Guernsey at 04:41 bound for Jersey when at around 05:30 it collided with the L'Ecume II,[90] an 18-metre (59 ft) fishing trawler.

[91] The Jersey registered trawler sank in 40 metres (130 ft) of water, 5.6 kilometres (3.5 miles) west of St. Ouen's bay with three fishermen on board.

Condor Vitesse in 2010
Condor Liberation arriving in Jersey (2015)
The Commodore Clipper in 2013