Condor Ferries
Condor Ferries
Condor Ferries is the current operator of ferry services between the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands and also one of many operating between the United Kingdom and France, as well as providing a service between France and the Channel Islands. Condor Ferries’ fleet consists of four ships. Fast ferry services operate between the Channel Islands, the UK and France. A conventional ferry service operates from Portsmouth to Cherbourg, Jersey and Guernsey.
History
Condor Ferries was founded in 1964 to challenge the conventional services operating between the Channel Islands and France. Condor’s first ferry was the Italian-built PT50 hydrofoil, Condor 1, and passenger numbers soon grew from 10,000 in 1964 to over 60,000 in 1966. Condor continued to invest in new fast ferry technology through the ’60’s and ’70s, and in 1987 ran its first scheduled service between the Channel Islands and the UK, initially using Condor 7, and later a regular service using Condor 5 and Condor 7. In 1991 Condor introduced the revolutionary wave-piercing catamaran, Condor 9, on its UK to Channel Islands service.
In 1993 it launched its first car-carrying wave-piercer - Condor 10, at a cost of £15 million. Since 1994 Condor has introduced new fast car ferries virtually every year, and now operates two of the world’s most advanced - Condor Vitesse and Condor Express. In 1999 Condor launched its all-weather, all-year-round traditional car ferry service. The Commodore Clipper operates from Portsmouth, and provides an alternative to travellers who prefer a more leisurely crossing, and enjoy travelling overnight in a comfortable cabin.