Jersey says goodbye to Condor after 60 years

The ferry company that has served the island since 1964 is setting sail for the last time in Jersey waters.

A new era for sea travel from Jersey is about to begin, as the island welcomes new ferry operator DFDS, which will begin services tomorrow (Friday 28 March) 

Its predecessor has served the island for over 60 years, bringing all the island's freight as well passengers to and from the UK and France.

The cargo ship the Goodwill unloaded at St Helier harbour for the last time at 4am. It has supplied the island since 1996.  The ship is now up for sale.

 The Goodwill has served Jersey since 1996

The Islander, which has already been rebranded with Brittany Ferries livery as Condor's parent company takes over Guernsey-only sea links, is due to arrive at 5.05pm and depart for Portsmouth two hours later.

 The Islander came into service on the Channel Islands routes in October 2023.

 The Islander, repainted with the Brittany Ferries logo 

The Condor Liberation made its last crossings to Jersey on Sunday (23 March).  

Passengers on board were given a free drink by the company to mark the occasion, and small crowds gathered at the harbours in Jersey and Guernsey to wave the vessel on her way.

The high speed ferry was introduced to the Channel Islands in 2015, but got to a bumpy start when it struck the harbour wall in St Peter Port on its second day in service. 

The Liberation is also being sold.

 The Condor Liberation

The longest-serving passenger ferry in the current Condor fleet, the Clipper, made her last journey between Portsmouth and the island on Tuesday (25 March) 

The Ro-Pax ship was bought by Condor in 1999, with room for 300 passengers and 100 cars.

 The Clipper made her last crossings to Jersey on Tuesday 25 March

The Clipper has been deployed elsewhere by Brittany Ferries, but will be used as back-up for Guernsey when required.

Brittany Ferries will also continue to use the Voyager catamaran between the UK, Guernsey and France, and on the once-a-week inter-islands crossing to Jersey.

Condor’s first passenger vessel, Condor 1' entered service on 1 May 1964 on a journey between France and the Channel Islands, carrying just 136 passengers.

Condor 4 and Trident alongside the Albert Pier (Credit: Jerripedia)

In modern times, Condor Ferries has reported carrying almost a million passengers and 200,000 vehicles a year on its CI routes.

Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries, says he 'doubts' the new arrangement is the best scenario for the islands:

"It's a new era, that's for sure.

"Overall, for both islands and the islanders, time will tell if it was the right decision. 

"I think we've made very clear our frustration over the process, but hopefully it will be the right decision for everybody, although I very much doubt it.

"I think there was a much better scenario for everybody."

Despite  a six decades-long collaboration, and still operating a weekly inter-islands service, he says there is now 'very little' relationship between Brittany Ferries and Jersey authorities:

"We will professionally hand over the quay, but besides that I don't think we have a lot to cooperate on with one another, given the choice that was made. But we will be professional until the end and we will do what our Guernsey partners are requesting in terms of serving inter-island. 

"Besides that, there is very little communication with Jersey and our competitor."

In May 2024, the governments of Jersey and Guernsey invited applications to take over the Channel Islands' ferry operations, as the islands' deal with Condor would expire in March 2025.

During November, Guernsey said it was pressing ahead with an independent ferry contract with Condor - rebranded as Brittany Ferries - separate from the joint tender process.

Jersey went on to award DFDS the Jersey ferry contract in early December, with schedules following in early 2025. 

Condor leaflets from 1980 and 1973 (Credit: Jerripedia)

In its time serving the island, Condor has helped initiatives in Jersey and Guernsey by funding sport, wildlife, educational, and art initiatives through its Community Fund, established in 2019.

Through sponsorship and grants, Condor enabled sports teams and community groups to attend vital events and ensured that groups had the supplies they needed to run efficiently, from sewing machines to easels and hedgehog shelters. 

In 2024 Condor gave £30,000 to 22 initiatives in Jersey and Guernsey. (Credit: Condor Ferries)

Mr Mathieu added:

"The Condor staff has served the island superbly.

"It's not an easy business to run vessels, with the weather and external constraints, but everybody recognised how good the staff at Condor were.

"It's a very difficult moment for those at Condor not to go to Jersey anymore."