Owner Ailleret & Co., Port Bail.
Builder T. Redhead & Son, Preston. 2.1879
Tonnage 176gr 5net
Dimensions 118.7(rl) 20.4 9.9
Propulsion Paddles, SR, 2cyl 32.5" -
CAMBRIA operated on the route between Portbail and Gorey for the 1894 season only, during which she suffered boiler problems, and was not seen again.
She was owned at the time by Ailleret & Co and was shown as being registered at Havre and Portbail between 1894 and 1900.
—-
1894 July 2. Last Friday CAMBRIA sustained a mishap, and will require a new boiler. Suspended for 6 weeks.
1894 September 1. Advert for cheapest, shortest and most direct route to the continent
Jersey -
1894 September 25. ASSISTANCE still in service.
1895 March 9. CAMBRIA on Portbail service.
1895 March 19. Gorey Carteret service resumes next month, CAMBRIA is running between Gorey and Carteret.
1894 July 2. Last Friday CAMBRIA sustained a mishap, and will require a new boiler. Suspended for 6 weeks.
1894 September 1. Advert for cheapest, shortest and most direct route to the continent
Jersey -
1894 September 25. ASSISTANCE still in service.
1895 March 9. CAMBRIA on Portbail service.
1895 March 19. Gorey Carteret service resumes next month, CAMBRIA is running between Gorey and Carteret.
—-
Vessels history, details for CAMBRIA from Lloyds Registers -
1879/80 T. Redland, POR Liverpool
1880/81 T. Thornton, which is below and crossed out, above Balensi Bros, POR Gibraltar
1881/81 Balensi Bros, POR Gibraltar. Crossed out T. Hayes
1883/84 T. Hayes, POR Gibraltar
1884/85 T. Redhead POR Gibraltar was at Liverpool 1.1884
1885/86 W.H. Ross & Co POR Liverpool
1886/87 T. Redhead & Son
1889/90 T. Redhead & Son
1890/91 Southport S.S. Co. Lim.
1891/92 Southport S.S. Co. Lim. crossed out now W. Whittle
1892/93 W. Whittle POR Liverpool
1893/94 W.T. Williams, POR Ramsgate crossed out now Dansey & Robinson
1894/95 Dansey & Robinson of Teddington, Middlesex
1895/96 Ailleret & Co. POR Havre
1900/01 Ailleret & Co. POR Port Bail
1901/02 Missing
1902/03 Scarboro Harbour Commissioners POR Scarbor 1900
1913 Sold to Hull owners 1913.
Note -
Picture :
CAMBRIA pictured at 301web 777k
CELUTA Data LR 1923/24 1921-
Owner Cie Transinsulaire de Nav
Builder Lobnitz & Co., Renfrew 2.1906
Tonnage 222gr 74net
Dimensions 125.9(rl) 20.1 10.1
Propulsion Single screw,SR 3cyl 10",16" & 26" -
The ship was purchased by Cie Transinsulaire de Nav. in 1921 for their services to Jersey from Granville and Saint Malo the vessel being renamed CELUTA before her first call at Jersey from Granville on August 12. Except for a short overhaul in early 1922 she maintained the services until her final call on January 5 1923, when her owners went into liquidation. CELUTA and the company’s SAINT HELIER were auctioned in June 1923 but failed to reach their reserve price, the CELUTA’s being F40,000 but she was sold later in the year.
The vessel was built as a tender being completed in February 1906 as BERYL for Cia
Mexicana de Vap del Aguila and registered in Vera Cruz. The title of her owners was
altered by 1912 to Cia Mexicanada de Petroleo "El Aguila", S.A., and in late 1915
she was renamed YOSKYL, and her owners became Anglo-
In 1917 the French Government found that they were short of small coastal vessels and purchased the ship and in 1918 she was renamed COCCINELLE and took up service from Granville to Chausey.
As mentioned she became the CELUTA in 1921, and following the collapse of her owners she passed late in 1923 to the Department du Finistere, renamed ENEZ EUSSA, registered at Brest, and used to maintain the service between Brest and the island of Ushant. She maintained the service until 1961.
Picture : 
CELUTA 301 web 114k
Picture :
Vessel in Granville harbour. 305 web 180k
Picture : No.2
Vessel when operating to Chausey from Granville as COCCINELLE, seen here in the Sound. 310 web 128k
Picture : GABY Artaud Pere et Fils.
Pictured here at Le Conquet when ENEZ EUSSA, and supplying the island of Ushent
-
Owner
Builder
Tonnage
Dimensions
Propulsion
Unable to find any details in registers of vessel.
1897 On Gorey-
Picture : LL 79
CHAMOIS depicted at Dieppe, and the card is post marked 1905. 301web 471k
Owner Plymouth, Channel Islands & Brittany S.S. Co. Ltd.
Builder R.Craggs & Sons, Middlesbrough. Yn 116 Comp 9.1895
Tonnage 1895 350gr 112net
1896 385gr
Dimensions 177.0(rl) 24.0 10.0
Propulsion Twin screw, SR, 3 cyl 13" 20" & 32" -
The ship was built to replace COMMERCE, being launched on July 13 1895. She ran trials on September 10 off Whitby and made 16 knots. Her maiden was on September 14 when she left Plymouth, and after calling at Guernsey arrived in Jersey at 11.45 pm.
She had alterations carried out during her overhaul in April the following year which increased her tonnage, but the ship was not to have a long life, as when approaching Guernsey on February 1 1898 she hit rocks and was lost.
Picture : 
CHANNEL QUEEN in St. Helier Harbour.
GRANVILLE 1868 -
Owner M. Durand, Granville.
Builder C. Mare. London 1841
Tonnage 89.2 Burthen
Dimensions 143.2 18.5
Propulsion
This vessel was built in 1841 as COMET for the Gravesend New Steam Packet Company and was used on the Thames. Acquired by M. Durand of Granville in 1856 she arrived in Jersey from London as COMET on July 4, sailing the same day for Granville. She entered service on July 20 as COMETE, and remained on the service until October 18 1859 when it was stated that she is to be withdrawn and moved to the Cherbourg – Le Havre route. This did not in fact occur, and she again took up the Granville service on December 18 1859 under the ownership of the La Societe Granvillaise but four years later on December 6 1863 the company went into liquidation. Who then operated the vessel is unknown, but in December 1868 the service and vessel was acquired by the London & South Western Railway.
COMETE left Jersey for Southampton on January 1 1868 where she underwent an extensive overhaul, returning to the Island on May 14 1868 now named GRANVILLE.
The vessel remained in service until October 9 1871, when she sailed from Jersey for Southampton, and it was announced on November 13 1871 she had been sold to owners in Cardiff and had left Southampton. Early in 1872 the ship was owned by a Mr. C. McConochie in Cardiff but she was never registered to him, and it was not until December 28 1872 that a Mr. John Boyle had her registered at that port. She did not remain long in his service, as her registry was closed on July 13 1875 upon being broken up.
Picture : Jersey Heritage Trust collection
P. J. Ouless sketch with COMETE being the upper vessel and
VENUS the lower. Dated May 3 1858
Picture : Jersey Heritage Trust collection
A P. J. Ouless sketch of COMETE dated November 7 1866.
Picture :
COMETE undergoing refit in Jersey between January 1 and May 14 1865
Picture
GRANVILLE a pen and ink sketch of vessel.
Owner 1874 Wm W. Bird. (1895/96 P,CI & B)
188. The Plymouth, Channel Islands & Brittany Steam Ship Co. Ltd.
Manager Onesimus Dorey, Appointed March 11 1887
Builder Ogier, Guernsey. 4.1874 (Data gives 12/1874)
Tonnage 1874 121gr 49net
1888 126gr 30net
1889 132gr 34net
Dimensions 105.4(rl) 20.6 9.6
Propulsion 1874 2 engines Vertical 1874 Hoskin, Bermondsey.
Single screw, SR, 2cyl 18" & 29" -
Two compounded inverted direct acting engine.
Compounded by John Stewart, Blackwall 1875
19" & 29" -
Passengers 1879 Return 58pass
1883 Return 58pass and 179 excursions.
On April 18 1873 it was announced that an order had been placed by Mr. Bird with Guernsey builders P. Ogier for the construction of this vessel. In fact she was owner by 8 shareholders, with Mr. Willam Waren Bird holding most shares, and his son William Waren Bird Jun being appointed managing owner. She was launched by March 26 the following year, and ran trials from St. Sampsons on April 28. The following day she ran an excursion to Jersey.
Her maiden voyage from Guernsey to Saint Malo was on May 29 and then ran between that port, Saint Brieuc and Plymouth, but she experienced machinery problems and had new equipment installed in London the following year, resuming service on April 10 1875.
Interestingly when first built she was registered in Jersey for two months before being transferred to Guernsey, with the main share holder being Wm Bird (Sen) and the managing owner being his son Wm Bird (Junior).
She changed route the following year and operated from London to the Channel Islands, arriving for the first time in Jersey on July 7 1876, but she was a very small vessel for this service and it was withdrawn on March 31 1877.
She reverted to the Saint Briac-
It would appear that ownership of the vessel changed in 1878 to O. Dorey & Co. and
the newspapers state on April 17 1885 she was re-
When the vessel was re-
COMMERCE continued in service until January 14 1898 when she was sold to William Reid Aiken of Aberdeen. It was unfortunate for the company that barely two weeks later their main vessel the CHANNEL QUEEN hit rocks and was lost.
COMMERCE remained in service until April 29 1911 when she was wrecked in Aberdeen Bay.
Picture :
Picture :
In the floating dock in St Helier Harbour.
Picture :
COMMERCE seen at Sark on the far side of ALERT (I) Picture has to be 1897
or before.
Picture :
A distant view of COMMERCE passing through the pier heads at St. Helier with
L&SWR’s HONFLEUR in the foreground. 230k
COMMODORE QUEEN (1) 1961 -
JERSEY QUEEN (2) 1972 -
Operator (1) Commodore Shipping Co. Ltd.
Operator (2) Jersey Car Ferries Ltd
Builder Stockton Construction Co. Ltd., Stockton-
Tonnage 309grt 147nrt
Dimensions 159'10" 24'8" 6'3"
147.0 22.5 10.0 reg dimns.
Propulsion Twin screw, Davey Paxman & Co. (Colchester) Ltd., 12 cyls oil engines .
This vessel was built in WW II as LCG(M) 181 (Landing Craft Guns Medium), and after the War was converted into a day passenger vessel by Bolsons at Poole for the New Medway Steam Packet Co. Ltd., Mgr A.H. O'Keffe. Named ROCHESTER QUEEN she entered service in 1948 operating between Sheerness and Herne Bay in the Thames Estuary.
The ship was not a great success, and was advertised for sale over a long period even being chartered by P. & A. Campbell Ltd for a sixteen week period in 1954 to run extra trips from Brighton before being sold in 1956 to Bremer Seebader of Bremen (Wangerooge Dienst GmbH), for service on the River Elbe Estuary being renamed HEIN MUCK.
She spent only four years in Germany, being purchased in late 1960 by Commodore Shipping Ltd. of Guernsey, following the purchase of that company by Mr Markham. Renamed COMMODORE QUEEN she arrived in Guernsey on January 10 1961, and after small alterations she was transferred to the Lion Shipping Company before entered service in May that year and was mainly used on excursions from Guernsey and Jersey , and arrived in Jersey for the first time on May .. , but she was a rather slow and at times unreliable vessel. On June 16 1962 the vessel was transferred back to the ownership of Commodore Shipping, and gradually as the smaller vessels were disposed of she took over more of the Guernsey to Sark and Alderney services. Following the introduction of the hydrofoil CONDOR I in 1964 she saw even less excursion work, and from 1966 remained solely on services to Sark and Alderney.
Commodore withdrew from these services at the end of September 1969 with COMMODORE QUEEN making her last trip to Sark on September 30, after which she was laid up in St. Sampson’s Harbour.
She remained there until June 30 1971 when she left for a refit at Cherbourg and was then purchased on July 14 by D.I.H.Clarke, and arrived in the River Medway on September 11, where she was allegedly involved in the Scientology sect.
She remained there until May the following year, when she was purchased by Lisarg Development Co for use by Jersey Car Ferries, a company which hoped to commence a side loading roll on/roll off service between the eastern coast of Jersey and nearby France. The ship arrived back in Guernsey for conversion on May 12 1972, and once the work was carried out she arrived at Jersey on July 30 as JERSEY QUEEN, the bill of sale date to Lisarg being July 17.
The company could not obtain permission to run this service, and the ship remained laid up until early the following year when after a further refit she entered service on June 16 1973 operating a passenger excursion service from St. Helier for the summer. She then remained laid up in Jersey until May 12 1974 when she left for Poole where she was again laid up, but was “sold” to Jersey Car Ferries Ltd. on August 30 1974.
Late that year the ship proceeded to Gweek in Cornwall where she was re-
The ship remained registered in Guernsey all this time, and on August 6 1976 her owners became K.G. (Specialist Ships) Ltd.
NO FURTHER DETAILS
Picture :
Arriving St. Sampson’s from Germany at the end of her delivery voyage. 230 136k
Picture : © PHOTO ONE
Approaching Jersey for the first time May 9 1961. Note the house flag, a gold lion on a blue background, later adopted for the Commodore fleet. 310 web 32k
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 584/5
On a round the island cruise June 21 1961 315web 60k
Picture :
La Maseline Harbour 1961 320web 373k
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 584/10
Departing Jersey for Guernsey light ship June 14 1962 301web 53k
Picture : Guernsey Press Co PN5054
Leaving St. Peter Port 1962 Note the horse box. 305web 117k
Picture : Guernsey Press Co. GPG 191
In Maseline Harbour 1963 or after. 200wa 82.17k
Picture : John Hinde Ltd. 2J105 
Being unable to enter Creux Harbour, meant that the ship in strong eastl’y winds had to anchor in Grande Greve. Her passengers having to descend the steep cliff path and be taken out by tender. Here we see the tender WHITE HEATHER II
just leaving the ship. 111w
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 646/2
JERSEY QUEEN arriving St. Helier July 30 1972 301web k
Picture :
Departing Carteret 1973 305web k
Owner Condor Ltd.
Builder L. Rodriquez, Cartiere Navali, Messina, Sicily. Yn 88 3.1964
Tonnage 127gr 71net
Gross tonnage 127 Nett tonnage 70.7 Load displacement 60 tons
Dimensions 91'6" 35'2" 4'11"
91.6 feet Beam over foils 35.2 feet Draft hull borne 11’10”
Draft foil borne 4’11”
Propulsion Twin screw, V12 Mercedes Benz oil engines 1350hp
Max speed 37 knots Service 33 knots
Passengers 140 -
The formation of Condor Ltd was the result of British Railways announcing the withdrawal the BRITTANY January 1963. The purchase of a hydrofoil for a service within the Channel Islands area was seen by many as a foolish enterprise, but this did not deter Peter Dorey, and CONDOR I was launched at Messina on March 15 1964 and arrived as deck cargo at Guernsey on April 12 1964. She carried out a V.I.P. trip to Jersey and Saint Malo on April 18, and entered service on May 1 1964.
During the first season saw services to the islands from Saint Malo, Granville as well as Cherbourg, and on September 3 a trial trip was made across the Channel to Torquay, but two further trips had to be cancelled.€
During the winter of 1965/66 considerable internal alterations were made, but the following year saw CONDOR 1 suffer a major mechanical in August and was out of service for the rest of the year.
As the traffic grew it was decided to replace CONDOR I with a larger vessel and she was traded in as part exchange for CONDOR 5, and was withdrawn from service after arriving at Guernsey on June 2 1976. She left two days later under her own power for Messina, but had problems on the delivery voyage, and due to import problems in Italy, she was not transferred to her new owners "Aliscafi" S.N.A.V. spa. until early 1977.
Renamed FRECCIA DI SICILIA she then traded for them until the end of the 1998 season, and was broken up at Messina in July 2003.
Picture : 
101w
Picture : 
The above two postcards show CONDOR 1 during her first year in service, red cheat lines and the BP shield on the round of the wheelhouse. 111w
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 
This photograph shows the slightly modified colour scheme of all blue bottom,
blue cheat line, and the Condor insignia on the round of the wheelhouse. The
ships name is still red on the lower hull 121w
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 
The final alteration shows the red name moved to the upper hull together with the Condor insignia, and blue cheat lines on the side of the deck cabin. 131w
Operator Condor Ltd.
Builder Cant. Navali L. Rodriquez, Messina. Yn. 119 1965
Tonnage 147gr 96net
127 gross …………
Dimensions 27.99 10.72
28.7m Beam over foils 10.7m Draft hull borne3.5m
Draft foil borne 1.5m
Propulsion Twin screw, oil engines. 2x Mercedes Benz 12v820DB 1350hp at
1500rpm 37kts max 33kts ser
Passengers 125 pass
With the demise of Jersey Lines in December 1968, Condor sought a quick way to provide extra capacity for 1969, and went to the builders of CONDOR I (who operated passenger services under the name “aliscafi" S.N.A.V. spa ) and chartered their hydrofoil FRECCIA ADRIATICA and operated her as CONDOR 2.
She arrived in Guernsey on May 13 1969 and then spent two summers with Condor wintering at Saint Malo before returning to her owners in October 1970, having finished service on September 30.
Due to CONDOR 6 being returned to her builders the FRECCIA ADRIATICA was chartered again for the 1981 season, arriving from Italy on May 14.
Returned to her owners, the craft was re-
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 
Jersey to Saint Malo August 16 1981 111w
Picture : © PHOTO ONE
Although trading as CONDOR 2 the vessel’s name FRECCIA ADRIATICA can
clearly be seen on the bow. 681k
Picture : 
101w
Operator Condor Ltd.
Builder Chantiere Navali L Rodriquez, Messina. Yn 133 Comp 4.1971
Tonnage 129gr 129.43grt 65.7nrt 65.6 displacement
Dimensions 94'1" 20'0" 4'11"
28.7m 10.72m (over foils) Draft hull borne 3.50m
Draft foil borne 1.50m
Propulsion Twin screw, oil engines 2 x MTU 493 V12s each 1350hp at 1500rpm
36kts max 32.5 service
Passengers 136 pass 7 crew
Having chartered CONDOR 2 for two seasons the company decided to have a second craft built, the order being announced in August 1970. The company entered into an agreement with the Nile S.S. Co. Ltd., London to finance the purchase of CONDOR 3, and as a result the vessel was initially registered in London with Nile as the owners. She made her own way from the builders to Guernsey, and entered service on Monday April 12 1971.
The registry of the craft was transferred to Guernsey on December 7 1976 , still with Nile S.S. Co. Ltd., as the owners.
In 1979 with the ever increasing numbers of French day trippers to the Islands, it was decided to replace CONDOR 3 with a larger craft, and thus on October 21 1979 she arrived at St. Sampsons for overhaul, which was completed by December 5 when she left St. Sampsons for St. Peter Port in readiness for a sale. Commodore Sg Co and Oneimus Dorey & Sons became joint owners on December 27 1979, and on December 31 she passed to Condor Ltd.
CONDOR 3 departed Guernsey on January 1 1980 for Southampton to be shipped to Uruguay for a service to across the River Plate to Argentina, having been sold to Belt S.A. Renamed COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO she entered service in April 1980. Her owners merged with rivals Alimar in February 1986 to trade as Aliscafos Puente Fluvial with Belt S.A. as managers.
COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO continued in service until November 8 1987 when during a storm she hit the landing pontoon at Colonia, puncturing her hull and sank. Although raised and towed back to Buenos Aires she was not considered worth rebuilding, and after the hull was stripped it was abandoned in the back waters of Buenos Aires. There the hull remained until 2001 when on July 26 it was raised and her remains broken up.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 
CONDOR 3 August 9 1972. 111w
Picture : 
101w
Picture :
Passing Point Robert, Sark. 121w
Picture : PHOTO ONE
Taking the 08:30 Jersey to Saint Malo departure on August 21 1974
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 653/18
It always pays to keep a sharp lookout! June 5 1976 310wa 132k
Owner Condor Ltd.
Builder Cantiere Navaltecnia SpA. Messina. Yn 184 1974
Tonnage 129gr 66net 15dw
Dimensions 94'1" 20'0" 4'11"
28.68m(oa) 10.72m Breadth(oa)
23.83m(bp) 5.85m Breadth(moulded)3.31 depth (moulded)
28.7m Beam over foils 10.72
Draft hull borne 3.5 m Draft foil borne 1.5 m
Propulsion Twin screw, 12 cyl MTU oil engines each 2,700 bhp
2 x MTU 493 V12 1350hp at 1500 rpm 36kts max 32.5 service
Passengers 136 pass
Built to expand the company’s services, CONDOR 4 was launched at Messina on May 14 1974, and arrived in Guernsey on June 8, entering service three days later..
She remained in service until the end of the 1990 season, arriving for lay-
Picture : © PHOTO ONE
301web 236k
Owner Condor Ltd.
Builder Cantiere Navaltecnica, Messina. Yn. 191 1976
Tonnage 174gr 83net 15 dw
173.66grt 82.86nrt Load displacement 82 tons
Dimensions 30.95m(oa) 12.6m(of) 3.683m draught
25.53m(bp) 6.20m (moulded) 3.74m depth(moulded)
Length 30.95m Beam over foils 12.6m
Draft hull borne 3.7m Draft foil borne 1.35m
Propulsion Twin screw, 12 cyl oil engines each 1,920 BHP MTU
2 x MTU 652 V12s delivering 1950hp at 1500rpm
39 knots. Max 33 service
Passengers 180 pass 7 crew
CONDOR 5 joined the fleet in 1976 to replace CONDOR I. She was bought “off the shelf”, with the order being announced on April 6 1976 and delivery being taken at the builders on Friday May 14, hence the non standard Condor livery for the first season. She arrived in Guernsey on May 28, entering service on June 2 1976. She helped to start the cross channel services in 1987 and continued on the route, and should have been replaced by CONDOR 9 in 1991 but due to the problems with the new vessel she remained until the end of the season. Overhauled for the 1992 season CONDOR 5, commenced a Guernsey – Jersey – Saint Malo service on April 8 1992, but only remained in service until April 21 being replaced by CONDOR 7 the next day. She then laid up in Saint Malo, and due to her not being part of the deal with T.N.T. ownership passed to Commodore Shipping in August that year.
Sold to Hermes Dolphin Shipping Co. of Piraeus with Hermes Hydrofoils as managers, in December 1993, the vessel was overhauled in Saint Malo before being shipped from there in April 1994 to Greece. Renamed IPTAMENOS HERMES III she remained in their fleet until 1998 when she was sold to another Greek company Speedy Lines and renamed SANTORINA DOLPHIN II, but did not remain long in their service being broken up at Perama in November 2004.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 
CONDOR 5 In her first year in service, pictured July 27 1976. 111w
Picture : © PHOTO ONE
Apart from the alterations to the colour scheme, note the extra supports for the forward foil, and the life rafts being moved to the top of the deck cabin. 320web 384k
CONDOR 6 Westamarin W100T catamaran 1980
Operator Condor Ltd.
Builder Westramarin A/S, Mandal. Yn. 75 1980
Tonnage 322gr 217net
Dimensions 31.73m 9.72m 1.70m
Propulsion 2 x Avco Lycoming TF 405 gas turbines 4,000 bhp, driving water jets
37 knots
Passengers 260 passengers
To increase the capacity of the fleet for the 1980 season, Condor decided to replace CONDOR 3, and chartered a new gas turbine powered catamaran which used water jets for propulsion. CONDOR 6 as the vessel was named was owned by K/S Haanes Shipping A/S of Norway being launched by Mrs Kjersti Haanes the wife of the owners on April 18 1980, and arrived in Guernsey from Norway on May 2.
The vessel entered service on May 4 but suffered problems throughout the summer,
steering gear failure on June 4, out of service for the fitting of a trim foil on
June 14, again off service June 21 and 22 and from June 24 to July 4. Her last day
in service was September 16, and the following day she arrived at St. Sampsons for
inspection of the waterjet units. It was found that there were major problems with
the units and it was announced that the charter of the vessel would end sooner than
expected and the vessel was returned to her owners. CONDOR 6 left Guernsey for Norway
on September 23 1980, where she was laid-
Renamed GIMLE BELLE early in 1981, it was not until 1983 that she was re-
In 1985 she was sold to Bellship Ltd another Norwegian company, but with contacts
in Gibraltar and placed under the management of JKL-
GIBLINE I spent six years on the Gibraltar Strait service before being sold in 1991 to Fast Ferries Siam Ltd. of Bangkok and renamed JET CRUISE I.
NO FURTHER DETAILS.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 
En route Jersey to Saint Malo, May 14 1980 101w
CONDOR 7 RHS 160F On. 706041 1985 -
Owner 3i plc.
Operator Condor Ltd.
Builder Cant Nav Rodriquez spa, Messina. Yn. 217 1985
Tonnage 208gr 128net 20dw
Dimensions 31.2m oa 26.40 x 6.71 12.6 over foils x 3.7 1
Propulsion Twin screw, 2 x MTU 396 TB 83 V16s oil engines 3,800 bhp Maz speed 40 knots Service speed 36 knots
Passengers 200 Crew 7
Condor 7 arrived in Guernsey on May 15 1985, and entered service on May 16 having been delayed on the voyage from Messina by bad weather. She was the sixth hydrofoil to see service with Condor, and was the largest. In October 1986 when the ro/ro ramp was blocked in St. Peter Port, she operated an “Emergency” cross channel service to Weymouth with the result that a regular service was introduced the following year. This service was operated together with CONDOR 5 and commenced every day in Saint Malo calling at the islands (Alderney on certain days) and then on to Weymouth, then returning south in the afternoon.
The craft maintained the service until the end of the 1990 season being replaced in 1991 by CONDOR 9 though she did stand in on occasions, the last being on April 7 1991.
CONDOR 7 then moved to the Guernsey – Jersey – Saint Malo route until September 10
1991 when she lost a propeller and shaft when on the Saint Malo-
The ship operated the same service in 1992 and remained part of the fleet when TNT took an interest in Condor in August 1992. She stayed in service until October 3 1993 but became redundant due to a pooling agreement with Channiland on the Saint Malo – Islands passenger services which commenced in 1994.
CONDOR 7 was laid up in Saint Malo, but left there on July 7 1994 under her own
power for Le Havre, where she was loaded onto MIGHTY SERVANT 3 for the trip out
to Zanzibar, having been sold to Azam Marine & Co. Ltd. for a service to Dar-
NO FURTHER DETAILS.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE
Picture : © PHOTO ONE
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP/90/10
August 10 1990 305web
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP/9/13
August 10 1990
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP90/9/36
August 21 1990
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP93/10/24
Approaching St. Helier during her last year in service, July 8 1993
Picture : The G.P.C. Ltd.
A company postcard. 325web 505k
CONDOR 8 1988 -
Owner Condor Ltd.
Builder Fairey Marinteknik Shipbuilders (S) Pte Ltd., Singapore. Yn. 115 1988
Tonnage 387grt 269nrt 31dw LR
Gross tonnage 387 Net tonnage 269 Load displacement 129 tons
Dimensions 36.33m(oa) 9.43m(extr) 1.323m draught
30.76m(bp) 9.40(moulded) 3.46 depth(moulded)
Length 36.5m oa Beam 9.4 m Draft 1.5 m
Propulsion Twin water-
Max speed 38 knots, service 34 knots
Passengers 300 crew 9
The introduction of the cross channel service in 1987 considerably reduced the southern part of the network, and Condor had discussions in June that year with Martinteknik for the provision of a catamaran to operate cross channel alongside CONDOR 7. The builders offered a 41metre craft for a four months bareboat charter from July 1 1988. The vessel was being built in Sweden and intended for Hong Kong, but there would be an option for purchase. By August the bareboat charter agreement for this craft had been signed, and a press release on September 2 1987 stated the craft for the Weymouth service would carry 406 passengers at 36.5 knots, 134 feet long and was due in service on June 15 1988. In December 1987 came the news that there was a delay in the new building and the builders now offered a 35 metre catamaran which was under construction in their Singapore yard. Condor decided to purchase the vessel offered and although it could not undertake the cross channel service it would provide the extra capacity required in the islands, while both CONDOR 5 and CONDOR 7 continued on the cross channel service.
Thus CONDOR 8 as the craft was named arrived off St. Peter Port on May 11 1988 as deck cargo on MV KESTREL, entering service six days later on May 17, being named the same day in Guernsey by Mrs. Nicola Norman. Being a catamaran she was able to berth at La Maselin harbour thus removing the need of the passenger launch at Sark. which resulted in the sale of the tender CONDOR KESTREL.
CONDOR 8 was part of the fleet following TNT taking an interest in late 1992, and she remained in full service until 1997 when due to a continued downturn in passenger numbers the services were reduced, and she operated only as required, taking turns with CONDOR FRANCE. Her last spell ended on October 1 1977, and she was sold late in that year to Rainbow Fast Ferries Ltd, registered in Valletta, but used on the Great Lakes in America under the name WATERWAYS I. She had been lifted aboard a heavy lift vessel in Saint Malo on November 28 1997 for the voyage west. She did not remain long in America as in 2000 she was renamed SNAV ARIES having been purchased by Marinvest Srl (SNAV) for use on their services in Italy.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP90/5/
Outward bound from St. Helier September 1 1990 305web 90k
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP94/7/31
Again seen outward bound from Jersey, this time on June 27 1994, and note the
CHANNILAND logo at the stern, this due to the joint service. 310web 67k
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP95/4/
A year later, photographed on , still with the CHANNILAND
logo, but CONDOR Ferries now on the hull, and the removal red/white and blue
bands at the waterline. 301web 73k
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 
Inbound to Jersey August 16 1996 in Condor Ferries titles. 101w
Owner Commodore Shipping (UK) Ltd. Mgrs Condor Ltd.
later Enterprise Marine Ltd. Mgrs Condor Ltd.
later Enterprise Express Ltd. Mgrs Condor Marine Services Ltd
Operator Condor Ltd.
Builder Aluminium Shipbuilders -
Tonnage 752grt 248nrt 60dw
Dimensions 48.70 18.40 2.043
42.00 18.20 5.54
Propulsion 4 x 16 cyls M.W.M. diesels into 4 water jet units.
Passengers 450
CONDOR 9 was built as the result of Condor Ltd entering the cross channel trade, and knowing that the hydrofoils needed replacing, an order for a new fast vessel was announced April 18 1989.
Further information was released on June 24, stating that the vessel was of the wave piercing design and would be 48.7m long with a beam of 18.2m and have a speed of 35 knots, and was due to be delivered early in 1990 and the cost of the vessel was £5m.
The wave piercer design was the start of a new era in fast passenger and car ferry vessels, and as will be seen was not without problems.
Construction slipped, and it was not until June 23 that the vessel was launched, with trials taking place in the week of July 23 1990.
Trials completed, CONDOR 9 arrived in St. Peter Port from Southampton on Saturday August 11 1990, and was named on Monday August 13 by Mrs. Jack Norman. After a short cruise the vessel proceeded to Saint Malo for a reception before arriving back in Guernsey at 21:00 hrs.
On Tuesday August 14 the vessel proceed to Weymouth before being scheduled to visit Jersey later in the day, both for V.I.P. visits, but due to a problem with CONDOR 7, her trip from Weymouth to Jersey turned into the ship’s maiden passenger carrying voyage. Due to a fractured pipe the vessel then proceed to St. Sampson’s for repairs, leaving Guernsey on Thursday 16 August bound for Saint Malo.
CONDOR 9 entered service from there on service to Jersey, Guernsey and Weymouth and return on Friday 17 August 1990. This was during a period of gales, and the vessel immediately encountered sea keeping problems to the extent that she had to be withdrawn from service after arriving in St. Peter Port on Sunday August 19, being replaced by CONDOR 7.
On August 21 the ship underwent sea trials, and then proceeded to Southampton on August 23, and a month later it was stated that the craft would be out of service until the next year,
CONDOR 9 called at St. Peter Port on Thursday 15 November during extensive sea trials carried out north of Alderney using the hydrofoil CONDOR 7 as a comparison. The result was a computer controlled T fin ride system developed in conjunction with the American company Marine Dynamics.
The vessel entered dry dock in Southampton on January 7 1991 for the system to be fitted, and so successful was it that it has been incorporated into nearly all high speed craft since.
The sea keeping problems with CONDOR 9 and those with the car carrying wavepiercer HOVERSPEED GREAT BRITAIN which had to be withdrawn on January 6 1991 from the Portsmouth to Cherbourg route had led Condor to put on hold their plans to introduce a similar craft on the Channel Islands service.
With the new system in place CONDOR 9 was due to re-
At the end of the 1991 season CONDOR 9 proceeded to the River Thames to be present on November 26 as part of the World Travel Market being held at Olympia, at which it was stated that 126,000 passengers had been carried on the service.
The success of the ride control system and its use on similar vessels, in fact cut short the vessels’ time on the service, as on August 27 1992 it was announced that the Australian Group T.N.T. had acquired 50% of Condor Ltd., and that two 74m car carrying craft (one leased) would be introduced for 1993, and that a 87m craft would follow in 1996.
In the event only one craft entered service in 1993 and CONDOR 9 was to remain to provide extra capacity when required, and when not needed was used to operate excursions to Alderney she also made a trial trip to Sark to see if she could operate into Maselin Harbour, but never operated a service.
Her time on the route was cut short due to the takeover by Condor Ltd of the BCIF passenger service in early 1994 and the resultant charter of HAVELET. There was thus no requirement for CONDOR 9, and she was chartered out to Viking Line for the summer of 1994 to operate three daily services from Helsinki to Tallinn in Estonia under the title VIKING EXPRESS. She ran with Condor officers, Russian seamen and Estonian cabin staff.
On return, she went out to the West Indies in October 1994, for a charter to Sun Island, but due to lack of passengers and the withdrawal of financial support by the Trinidad & Tobago Government the charter was terminated in 1995. The craft returned to the UK, and from early August to the end of September operated day excursions from Torquay to Guernsey and Jersey, the first to the latter on August 10 and the last on September 30 1995
Early in 1996 CONDOR 9 stood in from April 4 to April 7 on the Weymouth – C.I. service covering for the late arrival of CONDOR 12. She then spent the summer again operating day excursions mainly from Torquay to the Islands, commencing on May 28 but also operated some from Weymouth.
In 1997, with HAVELET no longer on charter, CONDOR 9 was based in Saint Malo operating to Jersey and Guernsey and at the weekends onwards to Poole as a backup for CONDOR EXPRESS, a role she maintained until November 6.
The vessels 1998 season commenced on March 27 again based in Saint Malo but only operating to the Islands, a service she maintained until the end of September 2001.
With Condor deciding to introduce CONDOR 10 to the Saint Malo Channel Island route in 2002, CONDOR 9 was sold early in that year to Stetson Navigation for a service across the Cortez Sea (Mexico) between La Paz and Topolobampo being renamed CORTEZ.
On April 15 2003 the vessel was rammed when in Puerto Vallerta, causing damage to the hull and flooding the engine room. It was in this condition that CORTEZ was purchased by the American firm Block Island Express and after being totally refurbished and re engined at the Eastern Shipyard in Panama City, Florida, she was renamed JESSICA W entering service on August 27 2004 between New London (on the north shore of Long Island, America) and Block Island off the eastern tip of Long Island.
Picture : Condor Ltd
A publicity shot to show the size of CONDOR 9 compared with a double decker
bus. 401 582k
Picture : Edition P. Desjardins
Vessel seen in Saint Malo on August 13 1990 during the receiption
Picture : © CP90/9/
CONDOR 9 Arriving St. Helier August 14 1990 at the end of her maiden
passenger cross channel crossing which should have been a V.I.P. only trip.
Note the Wavepiercer logo on the side of the cabin. 301w 608k.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP92/3
Pictured May 1992 inbound to St. Helier. 314w 645k
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP93/8
Outbound from Jersey to Guernsey and Weymouth June 8 1993. Note the small
TNT logo at the aft end on the lower blue band. 310w 487k
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP94/14/22a
In St. Peter Port on October 5 1994 being made ready for her charter in the West
Indies. 320w 588k
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CPp99/5/3
CONDOR 9 operates the return sailing to Saint Malo from Jersey July 3 1999.
Note the new style company lettering. 328w 437k
Picture : © PHOTO ONE © CP00/7/1 203w 48.8k
The vessel approaching Saint Malo June 25 2000, note the blue paint around the engine exhausts.
Owner Holyman Ferries Ltd.
Operator Condor Ferries Ltd.
Builder Incat Australia Pty. Ltd. – Hobart. Yn. 034 1994
Tonnage 3,989ngt 1399nnt
Dimensions 78.33m 26m Draft 3.4m
Propulsion 4 x 16 cyl RK 270 Ruston Diesels Ltd. each 4320 Kw
Max speed 37.5 kts Service speed 32.5 kts
Passengers 674 24 crew
Vehicles 135
CONDOR 11 made the world papers in 1994, when on October 8 whilst undertaking sea trials in the Derwent River she grounded on the Black Jack Rocks whilst travelling at full speed. Pictures of the vessel perched on top of the rocks appeared in all the papers, but she was later pulled off the rocks and repaired.
Ordered by Holyman Ferries Ltd., it was intended that she would work the Weymouth
-
Following repairs CONDOR 11 left Hobart in March 1995, and then spent three weeks in Denmark on route proving and crew training before being made ready for Channel Islands service, and due to her late delivery SEA CAT ISLE OF MAN was chartered to cover.
CONDOR 11 visited Guernsey and Jersey for berthing trials on May 13 1995 and entered service on May 18. She experienced a somewhat troubled season, with her last day in service being October 31.
The vessel then moved for service at Aarhus, being renamed CAT-
She remained on this service until being renamed EUROFERRYS I in May 1998 for a charter by EuroFerrys S.A. use at Algeciras, at which her owners were still stated to be CBA Asia Ptr, Ltd., with managers being Euro Ferrys S.A., and registered at Ceuta.
In October 1999 the vessel was renamed EUROFERRYS PRIMERO with her owners now stated to be Europa Ferrys S.A. and her port of registry being Las Palmas.
She was withdrawn from service and laid-
She was overhauled at Portsmouth the following year and returned to lay-
Three months later in April 2005 she was sold to El Salam Maritime, Egypt, but was registered to Maritime Co., For Navigation, Saudi Arabia, under the name FARES 2.
Last report on AIS was on November 6 2010 when leaving Gizan.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP95/6/33 201w 46.0k
CONDOR 11 undergoing berthing trials in St. Helier, May 13 1995
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP95/6/28 203w 62.6k
At the East Ramp with her bow doors open. Notice there is no company logo
on the hull.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP95/8/14A 205w 35.1k
Pictured departing St. Helier May 22 1995, still no Condor logo.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP95/13/9 207w 34.0k
CONDOR 11 crossing St. Aubin’s Bay, August 2 1995, now with Condor
Logo, and note the Holyman logo on the emergency exit.
CONDOR FRANCE 1996 -
Also operated 1993 -
Owner Sea France S.A. , POR Cherbourg No Mgrs.
Operator SNAT
Operator Condor Ferries
Builder Hull FBM Marinteknik (S) PTE Ltd., Singapore Yn. 129. Lan
1993.
Completed Marinteknik Verkstads AB, Oregrund. Comp 1993.
Tonnage 585ngt 387nrt 155
Dimensions 41.57m (oa) 34.04 11.0m 1.300 3.67depth
Propulsion 2 x 16 cyl MTU 396 TE 774L diesel engines. 5,438bhp
34kts.
Passengers 350 pass
This vessel came into the Condor Ferries fleet when Channiland decided to withdraw from the trade. The vessel was taken on charter by Condor Ltd which by this time were trading as Condor Ferries, and on April 22 1996 the vessel arrived in the islands as CONDOR FRANCE but still under the French flag, having been chartered from her owners.
With traffic still declining the vessel was only in Condor service for two years,
being withdrawn at the end of her season on September 15 1998, and laid up in Saint
Malo. She was re-
SAINT MALO was built at a time when the French Railways (SNCF) wanted to stake a claim in providing local shipping services around the coast of France. With the failure of some of their sponsored operators on the route to Channel Islands, they stepped in, and formed Societe Nouvelle d’Armement Transmanche (S.N.A.T.) which traded as Channiland and commenced on the routes from Saint Malo and Granville to the Jersey and Guernsey.
The vessel was late in delivery, entering service on May 29 1993, and apart from the summer season, she also operated a number of trips over the Christmas period.
At this time the market was contracting and in an effort to contain costs, an agreement was reached with Condor Ltd, for a pooled service on the Saint Malo route in 1994, and the Condor logo appeared on the hull.
Disaster struck on April 17 1995, when the vessel struck a rock when rounding Corbiere Point, Jersey, sparking a major rescue, but without the loss of life, but leaving many badly injured.
The vessel was salved, re-
She was renamed ACACIA, before leaving on November 24 for final finishing work at St. Peter Port, leaving there on November 27 1998 bound for La Rochelle to be transported across the Atlantic , having been chartered by Brudey Freres at Guadeloupe.
It is difficult to trace her exact owners, as Lloyds Register supplement for early 1999 gives ACACIA with managers as Condor Ferries, in 2000/01 edition owners are Sea France S.A., managers still being Condor Ferries, while a year later, owners are G.I.E, Saint Malo still with Condor as managers. In the 2005/06 edition owners are Societe de Transports Maritimes Brudey Freres. POR Cherboug and no managers.
She remained in their service until 2008 when she became SPIRIT 1, it being stated that she was still owned by G.I.E. Saint Malo, and operated by Gerant Cie Mme de la Calaibe.
Three years later she was renamed LOVELY 1 for service by Lovely Fast Ferries, of the Dominican Republic.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP96 PZ/3/12a
Inwards June 14 1996.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP96/4/
Outwards June 14 1996
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP96 PZ/3/13a
Arriving Jersey June 14 1996
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP PZ/5/8a 205w 49.55k
Outward bound June 18 1996
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP96 PZ/11/8a
This picture shows the fast rescue craft and launching derrick installed following her accident the previous year. Photographed entering St. Helier Harbour July 7 1996.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP94/10/10 203w 31.9k
Pictured as SAINT MALO inwards to Jersey July 25 1994.
See SAINT MALO for other pictures.
Owner Jersey Steam Shipping Co. Ltd.
Builder Eltringham, South Shields. Yn 188 1897
Tonnage 224grt 89.46 nrt
Dimensions 131 21.7 10
Propulsion Paddles Two engines 31” 31” 58" stroke 150 NHP 750 HP 12 knots
The Jersey Steam Shipping Co. Ltd was set up in following the London & South Western Railways Co’s decision to withdraw their services between Jersey Granville and Saint Malo which they did on March 27 1919.
It was announced on July 27 1919 that the company had purchased CONQUEROR for £8,000 from London owners for their new operation which it was intended link the two French ports and also carryout excursions to Sark. The vessel was registered in Jersey on August 25 1919, and although she was due to arrive in Jersey on Friday August 29, but due to labour difficulties in London, it was not until Friday September 5 that she arrived in Jersey.
During the Great War the vessel had been used as a troop ship across the channel, and had a river licence for 500, and it was hoped that she could obtain a BOT 2 licence for 250.
A paddle steamer over twenty years old was not the right vessel for the trade, and at the same time a couple of French companies also commenced on the routes. The point was made on Sunday December 7 when during a gale she damaged one of her paddle boxes and was out of service for ten days.
On December 23 1919, Philip Hamon Jun was appointed manager and on December 28 1919 the vessel sailed for Le Havre for a special charter which took her up to Ostend, but she was back in the Island by January 8.
The vessel must have been overhauled in March 1920, as on the 30th it was stated that she had returned to service with a certificate for 225 passengers. On June 11 there was mention that the ship would be withdrawn for a week for the new bridge to be completed and the required alterations made to the steering, but a later statement said that she would continue as normal.
As already mentioned CONQUEROR was not the right ship for the trade, and with competition, it was no surprise when on October 23 1920 after barely a year’s trading it was announced that “the vessel is to layup on her arrival here today, the shipment of horses to France, which has been a principal source of revenue to the steamers running to France has now been stopped, whilst the coal strike has evidently not improved matters”.
The ship then remained laid-
A newspaper report on May 5 1922 stated that the vessel had been sold, and on May 30 she left bound for Scotland, it being stated that her new owners were Kirk, Dias & Co from the Firth of Forth, and some works state that she was transferred in 1923 to E. R. McNab, but laid out below is the information taken from the official Bills of Sale.
The vessel had been built in 1897 for use in the Thames area, being owned by a number of persons, a some of whom were Trinity House pilots and the others being involved in running the vessel. Over a period of time the shares changed, and below is the list of these changers until she was sold on August 21 1919 to the Jersey Steam Shipping Co. Ltd.
New vessel, Registered in London 27/1897 dated 23 February.
Owners Thomas George Sandford (THP) 22
William Henry Sandford (THP) 11
George Sandford (THP) 11
George Henry Gregory 8
Horatio Sandford (Engineer) 6
Edward Augustus Sandford 3
Robert Andrews (Maaster Mariner) 3
1898 3 March. Bill of sale by Robert Andrews of 2 shares to George Sandford and 1 share to William Henry Sandford.
1902 1 January. Bill of sale by Edward A. Sandford of 3 shares to George Sandford.
1902 1 January. Bill of sale by George H. Sandford of 8 shares to John Page.
1902 1 January. Bill of sale by Horatio Sandford of 6 shares to John Page.
1902 1 January. Bill of sale by Thomas G. Sandford of 22 shares to John Page.
1919 21 August. Bill of sale by William Henry Sandford 12 shares,
Bill of sale by George Sandford 16 shares
Bill of sale by John Page 36 shares
all to The Jersey Steam Shipping Co. Ltd.
1919 21 August. Registry to Jersey.
1922 9 June. Bill of sale by Jersey Steam Sg Co. Ltd. to Edward Rolland McNab, Edinburgh.
Registry to Kirkcaldy register 3/1922 3 August 1922 Owner Edward Rolland McNab.
1923 23 October. Bill of sale by Edward Rolland McNab to William Smart Taylor, Dunbla ne.
1924 10 May. Bill of sale by William Smart Taylor, to John Fenton, Edinburgh.
Registry to Middlesbrough 4/1925 8th April 1925 Owner John Fenton.
1925 18 April. BOT agreement to rename vessel HURWORTH.
1925 28 April. Bill of sale by John Fenton to Tees Towing Company Ltd.
1927 30 August. BOT agreement to rename vessel HUTTON CROSS.
1934 24 August. Certificate cancelled, vessel broken up.
Picture : F. Foot Pitt Series No. 89
CONQUEROR backing away from the Albert Pier with a goodly number of
passengers 305web 364k
CORBIERE (II) 1923 -
Owner Walter Marett, Commercial Buildings, Jersey.
Builder Vegesack 1896
Tonnage 152gr 66net
Dimensions 107.1(rl) 21.0 10.2
Propulsion 25 HP
The vessel was built as the steam trawler JUTLANDIA in 1896, and then became STUTTGART and later CLEARSIN and it was as such she was acquired from C. H. Crichton, having been laid up in Liverpool. The vessel was renamed CORBIERE in November 1923, being owned by Walter Marett.
It was on November 27 that the newspaper stated “ Over the years CORBIERE has run to Saint Malo under Renouf & Co. Now a steamer CORSIN has been secured To allow larger cargoes to be carried and she will be renamed CORBIERE”.
The vessel made the headlines on November 19 1925 when she was in distress, due to being short of coal, but she kept a regular service until July 1932 when the service ceased.
CORBIERE was not out of service for too long, as the newspaper of September 29 1932,
stated “ the CORBIERE which we stated some days ago has been bought by Mr. Otero
, former engineer on the ship, was purchased on behalf of a local syndicate which
intends to restart the Jersey France service with the vessel”. She was in fact registered
to Francis Morris of 32 Columbus Street, St. Helier, and the service re-
The vessel left St. Helier on April 9 1933 for a complete overhaul and refit in Portsmouth, and she returned on May 24 under the command of Mr. Corbet, and by August was operating to Portsmouth. But cargo was difficult to obtain and the ship was withdrawn on December 10 1933.
CORBIERE made one further trip on October 30 1934, and on May 8 1936 it was stated that the vessel had just been sold for breaking up.
Picture :
CORBIERE 301W 239K
Picture : R.F. Wills 135
This is a section of a post card, showing the vessel working cargo at the end of the
New North Quay in June 1932. 310w 68.4k
Picture :
Moored in the English Harbour, laid-