Condor Liberation back in service after release from detention

Saturday 19 March 2016

Condor's beleaguered Liberation ferry was back in action today after being released from detention.

The £50m ship had been impounded by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency in Poole on Wednesday after an inspection found 11 "substantial deficiencies" with the vessel - including problems with its engines, fire doors and steering.

But on Friday night, the ship was re-inspected by the MCA and allowed to leave port. Today, the ship resumed sailing between Poole and the Channel Islands.

A spokeswoman for the MCA said: "On Friday evening, MCA surveyors re-inspected the vessel Condor Liberation and have released it from detention. We are satisfied that the defects found in the above name vessel have been rectified. The MCA does not set up additional safety requirements but enforces the rules and standards laid down in international agreements on ships regardless of the flag they are flying."

The 102m Condor Liberation has been beset by problems since it joined the ferry company's fleet a year ago and has become the subject of exasperation and even derision by some Channel Islanders.

Condor's latest problems have been exacerbated by the absence of its other fast ferry, Rapide, which is in dry dock undergoing routine maintenance.