University journeys face disruption after ferry services cancelled

Tuesday 05 September 2023

Condor has expressed regret after cancelled ferries threw some local families' trips to UK universities into disarray.

With the new academic year starting later this month, passenger and freight services have been affected by problems with a chartered vessel due to replace ferries that had been booked for maintenance.

"I am likely to lose pay"

One mother with a student heading to university said their outward crossing to the south coast of England had been cancelled, leaving them little choice but to accept a replacement booking two days earlier. So "fed up" was the parent that she wrote to Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet to express her frustration.

“Because we have to go early I am likely to lose pay due to taking unauthorised holiday, while my husband now can't make the trip at all," she explained.

“We've also been saddled with the cost of an extra two nights' accommodation and intend to seek compensation from Condor – this sort of service isn’t good enough at a vital time of year for those going off to study.”

Pictured: A Jersey mother said the level of service "isn't good enough at a vital time of year for those going off to study".

A local dad said: "This is a total pain for us, as we are taking [our daughter] to uni, and I can't go on the Tuesday. I suspect with uni start dates imminent, this will have affected quite a few families on the Thursday night boat."

Clipper withdrawn "earlier than originally scheduled"

A Condor Ferries spokesperson said: "The alterations are due to a late issue with the availability of a chartered vessel, which has impacted on our planned fleet maintenance programme.

“Commodore Clipper is being withdrawn from service earlier than originally scheduled, so the MV Arrow will cover her freight sailings alongside Commodore Goodwill.”

A new Liberation sailing to Guernsey and Jersey will operate on Tuesday 12 September and a Poole-Guernsey-Poole service has also been scheduled on Thursday 14 September to meet demand.

"We regret the inconvenience"

The spokesperson concluded: “Most passengers have been moved within 24 hours of their original departure time.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to travellers and freight clients.”