HSC Condor Express
 HSC Condor Express in Poole Harbour | |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | HSC Condor Express |
| Owner: | Condor Ltd |
| Operator: | Condor Ferries |
| Port of registry: | Nassau, 22x20px Bahamas |
| Builder: | Incat, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. |
| Cost: | £27 million |
| Yard number: | 042 |
| Laid down: | 18 March 1996 |
| Launched: | 24 November 1996 |
| Completed: | 1996 |
| Maiden voyage: | 31 January 1997[1] |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9135896 |
| Status: | in service |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 5,007 tonnes |
| Length: | 86.62 m (284.2 ft) |
| Beam: | 26 m (85.3 ft) |
| Draft: | 3.5 m (11.5 ft) |
| Installed power: | 4x Ruston 20RK270 |
| Propulsion: | 4x Lips LJ145D waterjet |
| Speed: | up to 40 knots |
| Capacity: |
800 passengers 200 vehicles |
The HSC Condor Express is a 86m fast catamaran ferry that runs between the UK and the Channel Islands. It is operated by Condor Ferries.
History
Condor Express was built in 1996 at the Incat Yards in Tasmania, Australia for use by Condor Ferries then joint owned by Commodore Shipping of Guernsey and Holyman. Condor Express was the first of a series of four 86m catamarans.
Condor Express arrived in her home waters from her builders in January 1997 and was opened to the public in Poole before taking up service between Weymouth and the Channel Islands later that month replacing Condor 12. On 1 March 1997 Condor Express opened the Poole-Channel Islands service for Condor Ferries after operating what was planned to be the last sailing from Weymouth for the company the day before. Condor Express' first year in service was marred by a series of technical problems resulting in delays and cancellation of what was now the only car and passenger ferry service to the Channel Islands. As a result of these problems the governments of Guernsey and Jersey put the licence to operate the service to the United Kingdom out to tender. Since this time Condor Express' engines have been modified along with those of her sister ships and she now provides a reliable service between the UK and the Channel Islands though she is now based once again in Weymouth year round with seasonal services from Poole. As part of a bid to improve service as part of the tender agreement Condor Express and her sister Condor Vitesse were fitted with a Club Lounge and an area of reclining seats.
Condor Express received an updated version of the Condor Ferries livery in 2003.
In August 2005 Condor Express briefly ran on the Brittany Ferries Poole-Cherbourg service. She had been experiencing technical problems and so the Condor Vitesse was transferred to the more taxing Channel Islands service. During this time Condor Express did not sail to St Malo instead running an afternoon roundtrip to Cherbourg to ensure she would return to Poole in time for the 07:30 Brittany Ferries departure time. Condor Express ran once again for Brittany Ferries on 19 May 2008.
Regular Routes
- Weymouth - Channel Islands - Poole - Channel Islands - Weymouth Summer Service pattern
- Weymouth - Channel Islands (some services continuing to St Malo) Winter service pattern
Onboard facilities
Bars and Restaurants
- Café - Main Deck.
- Bar - Upper Deck.
Shops
- Duty Free Shop - Main Deck
- Kiosk - Upper Deck
Other Facilities
- Children's Playroom - Main Deck.
- Club Lounge - Main Deck.
- Reclining Seats - Main Deck.
