HSC Condor Liberation
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
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| Owner: | 2010-2014: Austal Ships Pty Ltd, 2014 onwards: Condor Ferries |
| Operator: |
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| Port of registry: |
Nassau,  Bahamas
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| Route: | Poole-Guernsey-Jersey-Guernsey-Poole with a Connecting Service in Guernsey or Jersey to St. Malo |
| Builder: | Austal, Henderson, Australia |
| Launched: | 2010 |
| In service: | 27 March 2015 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9551363 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | High Speed Vessel (Trimaran) |
| Displacement: | 6,231 tons |
| Length: | 102 m (335 ft) |
| Beam: | 27.95 m (91.7 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 3 x 20 cyl MTU 20V8000M71L, 12,203bhp each at 1150rpm. Each engine 347.4 litres. |
| Speed: | 39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph) |
| Capacity: | 800 passengers + Crew |
HSC Condor Liberation is a fast ferry which was built by Austal Shipbuilders in Henderson, Australia. Previously named Austal Hull 270 and Condor 102, she entered service as HSC Condor Liberation with Channel Island ferry operator Condor Ferries on 27 March 2015.
Originally named Austal 102, she was launched in January 2010 at the Austal shipyard in Henderson and was laid up at the shipyard for four years before a new owner was found. Rumours were that the ship was to enter service with Euroferries, operating a 75-minute service between Ramsgate in the United Kingdom and Boulogne-sur-Mer in France. She was due to be handed over to Euroferries in January 2013 and enter service in February 2013 but the service failed to materialise and the ship remained in Austal's hands.
In 2014, Condor Ferries extended their agreement to run Channel Island services until 2020 and subsequently negotiated the purchase of the Austal Hull 270, which they named Condor Liberation. The vessel operates out of Poole on the Dorset coast and has operated services to the Channel Islands since March 2015.
On Saturday 28 March 2015, the day after she entered official commercial service, Condor Liberation hit the quayside in Guernsey in strong winds. The collision caused damage to her hull which prevented further use of the vessel until repaired, and she was taken, out of service, to Poole where the damage was repaired. Passengers had to wait for Commodore Clipper to take them back to the UK, albeit to Portsmouth instead of Poole.
A report on the collision was published on 27 May 2015, and concluded that the fendering on the berth was insufficient for high speed craft, and ruling out any wrongdoing of the ship's crew.
The Condor Liberation has received numerous reports from passengers about the vessel's rolling characteristics. Notably an incident on 18 May 2015 prompted in excess of 50 reports of 'Corkscrewing' in only two metre seas on its evening sailing from Guernsey to Poole. This included a video filmed on board at the time of the incident clearly showing Liberation listing heavily. Condor later reiterated the safety of the vessel noting the important difference between safety (and stability) and ride comfort.
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Wikipedia