The latest addition to the Condor Ferries fleet - the superb Condor 102 - departed from Austal’s shipyard in Balamban, Cebu in the Philippines, beginning her long journey to Southampton.
Condor’s superb new ship starts her long journey home
This morning, the latest addition to the Condor Ferries fleet - the superb Condor 102 - departed from Austal’s shipyard in Balamban, Cebu in the Philippines, beginning her long journey to Southampton, where final preparations will be made before she comes into service at the end of March.
The 102 metre-long ferry has been in Austal’s facility in the Philippines for the past four months where she was being fitted out to Condor’s precise specifications so that she is set up to deliver the outstanding customer experience that passengers travelling between the UK and Channel Islands expect.
The ferry is expected to take around four weeks to make the journey to the UK. During the voyage, which is being undertaken by Condor crews, the ferry will sail across the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal and via the Mediterranean before travelling up the Bay of Biscay and into the English Channel. The entire journey is approximately 10,500 nautical miles in length.
Once she arrives in Southampton, interior refurbishment specialists, Trimline, will complete the internal fit out and the ferry will undertake further trials before she begins sailing between Poole and the Channel Islands in the spring.
Even before Condor 102 set sail earlier today, Condor had already seen unprecedented levels of interest from passengers wanting to travel between the UK and the Channel Islands on the new ship.
Since sailings went on sale for the new ship last month, Condor has reported record sales, and last Friday (28 November), the company saw its busiest-ever booking day – with more than 100 passenger bookings taken every hour!
“I’m delighted that we are now entering the final stages of the new ferry’s preparations before she is able to come into service on the UK to Channel Islands route,” said Capt Fran Collins, Executive Director – Operations, at Condor Ferries.
“I know that many people will be excited to see the 102 in British waters and we are all looking forward to the day in March when we will be able to travel on her for the first time.”
“Our teams have worked tirelessly both to prepare the ship for service and her journey back, and so our thanks go to everyone who has played a part in the project so far. Our crew now have several weeks at sea bringing her home, and we all wish them bon voyage.”
Issued on behalf of Condor Ferries by McKenna Townsend
For further information please contact Rachel Hadfield or Caitlin Smith on 01425 472330 or email condor@mckennatownsend.com