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Condor Ferries
 
Condor Ferries Page 1: Commodore Shipping
 
 
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the conventional vessels of Commodore Shipping. Fast ferries of Condor are shown on Condor - Page 2. An alphabetical list of ships shown on this page is shown below. The Table beneath gives links to complete history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table is a Fleet List in chronological order.
 
Commodore began operations in 1947 as Commodore Cruises, when they operated a number of ex-Royal Navy Fairmile 'B' craft were used on excursions from South East England resorts. In September 1947, Red Commodore was chartered by a Guernsey operator who ran to Sark and Alderney. The following year, Commodore, employed Red Commodore and Silver Commodore on similar routes, joined by White Commodore later in the season. Their complete fleet of Fairmile launches was:- White Commodore (ex-ML445), Silver Commodore (ex-RML499), Fleet Commodore (ex-RML534), Red Commodore (ex- RML537) and Gay Commodore (RN serial unknown).
 
In 1950, the first cargo vessel, Island Commodore (1) joined the fleet, although she was also licensed to carry 144 passengers on inter-island routes. Typically, Island Commodore (1) would run from St Peter Port, Guernsey to Sark three times a week, and twice to Alderney all year round. The Fairmile launches would operate summer-only on extra trips.
 
Ownership of Commodore passed to Mansfield Markham in 1960, and a larger vessel was acquired from Germany, becoming the Commodore Queen. The intention was to run her to France, but she lacked sufficient speed to be totally successful on such services. In 1962, the Alderney Tramp Shipping Company was acquired along with the vessel Orselina. She was soon joined by the chartered coaster Allen Commodore, which was used on a cross-channel cargo service to Portsmouth. A sister, Norman Commodore (1) joined the fleet for a service to Shoreham, whilst Orselina was used to St Malo. British Railways withdrew their ferry Brittany in 1963, and a new company, Condor Limited, was formed to operate high speed services to France with the hydrofoil Condor 1. Control passed to Jack Norman in 1965, who then acquired Channel Transporters (Portsmouth), allowing Commodore to become major players in the Channel Islands freight markets.
 
The new Albert Johnson Quay opened in Portsmouth in 1968, allowing Shoreham services to be transferred. Increasing numbers of containers were carried, and many open flush decked container vessels were chartered to augment services, but additional ships were also purchased, becoming Commodore Clipper (1) and Commodore Goodwill (1), and new container ships Norman Commodore (2) and Island Commodore (2) were delivered in 1971. A third ship, Commodore Trader joined them in soon afterwards.
 
Sealink (British Railways) introduced first car ferries to Channel Island services in 1973, followed by multipurpose ferries also carrying trucks in 1977. A major Sealink freight customer was Mainland Market Deliveries (MMD), who were specialised fruit carriers. They transferred their business to Channel Islands Ferries (CIF) in 1985. CIF made significant inroads into the Sealink traffic to the islands, and in 1986 a joint company British Channel Islands Ferries (BCIF) was formed. However strike action by Sealink crews prevented Sealink ships from joining the new company, and Sealink eventually lost its entire shareholding. Following the failure to provide a joint service with Sealink to the Channel Islands, BCIF were left to operate services on their own. However, they chose to concentrate all their services on Poole, abandoning Portsmouth and Weymouth, and leaving MMD without a service from their port of choice, Portsmouth. In collaboration with Commodore, MMD chartered a ship and began a freight-only ro-ro service. The ship was renamed the Pride of Portsmouth and was managed by Sealink, at the time keen to re-enter the trade. Pride of Portsmouth initially operated in MMD livery, but worked in consort with the Commodore lo-lo container ships. On 1st August 1989, MMD were taken over by Commodore, and the Sealink management contact for Pride of Portsmouth was not renewed. Pride of Portsmouth changed to Commodore livery and was renamed Norman Commodore (2) in 1993. She had been joined by the Juniper in August 1990, at which point all traffic transferred to the ro-ro services.
 
In October 1993, an order was placed for a purpose-built ro-ro ferry since available chartered tonnage was too slow and also slow to load/unload because most required the use of lifts. Island Commodore (2) was delivered in 1995, followed by sistership Commodore Goodwill (3) the following year. There was a requirement for additional passenger capacity in the conventional ferries, so cover the fast ferries in bad weather, and in 1999 the Commodore Clipper (5) arrived, replacing the Island Commodore (2). From 2004, the ferries received full Condor Ferries colours. In 2005, the Condor Group is owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
 
 
Reference:-
Commodore Shipping - The First Half Century 1947-1997: by Kevin le Scelleur - published by Commodore Shipping
 
Sections on This Page:-
Commodore Fleet List
Commodore Publicity

Ships on This Page:-
Clare (2000)
Commodore Clipper (1)
Commodore Clipper (4) (1991-1996)
Commodore Clipper (5) (1999- )
Commodore Enterprise
Commodore Goodwill (3) (1996- )
Commodore Queen
Fleet Commodore
Gay Commodore
Havelet (1994-2000)
Island Commodore (1)
Island Commodore (2) (1995-1999)
Juniper (1990-1991, 1994)
Norman Commodore (1)
Norman Commodore (3) (1993-1994)
Pride of Portsmouth (1989-1992)
Purbeck (2002)
Red Commodore
Silver Commodore
White Commodore
 
Condor Fast Ferries on Page 2:-
Condor 1 (1964-1977)
Condor 2 (1969, 1981 - chartered)
Condor 3 (1971-1980)
Condor 4 (1974-1993)
Condor 5 (1976-1993)
Condor 6 (1980 - chartered)
Condor 7 (1985-1994)
Condor 8 (1988-1997)
Condor 9 (1990-2002)
Condor 10 (1993-1996, 2002)
Condor 11 (1995 - chartered)
Condor France (1996-1999 - chartered)
Condor 12 (1996-1997 - chartered)
Condor Express (1997- )
Condor Vitesse (1998- )
 
Associated Pages:-
Commodore Shipping - this page!
Condor - Page 1 - Conventional ferries - this page!
Condor - Page 2 - Fast ferries of Condor Ferries
Fairmile 'B' Header Page - List of Fairmile 'B' launches used in the UK
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
Search This Website:-

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Table of Ship Histories
Name
Other names
 Built
 Commodore Clipper  
 1999








Commodore Fleet List
Condor Ferries Page 1: Commodore Shipping



Red Commodore
 
Red Commodore was used on Guernsey services in 1948 and 1949. She was a Royal Navy Fairmile B launch built in 1942.
 
For the record, the Commodore Fairmiles were Gay Commodore, White Commodore (ex-ML445), Silver Commodore (RML499), Fleet Commodore (RML534) and Red Commodore (RML537).
 
 
Photograph of Red Commodore.
Photo: © Condor Ferries.






Silver Commodore
 
Silver Commodore was used on Guernsey services in 1948 and in 1962. She was a Royal Navy Fairmile B launch built in 1942. She was then sold to Croson Limited of Bournemouth, and renamed Swanage Belle.
 
For the record, the Commodore Fairmiles were Gay Commodore, White Commodore (ex-ML445), Silver Commodore (RML499), Fleet Commodore (RML534) and Red Commodore (RML537).
 
 
Postcard of Silver Commodore.






White Commodore

Commodore began operations in 1947 as Commodore Cruises, when they operated a number of ex-Royal Navy Fairmile 'B' craft were used on excursions from South East England resorts. In September 1947, Red Commodore was chartered by a Guernsey operator who ran to Sark and Alderney. The following year, Commodore, employed Red Commodore and Silver Commodore on similar routes, joined by White Commodore later in the season. Their complete fleet of Fairmile launches was:- White Commodore (ex-ML445), Silver Commodore (ex-RML499), Fleet Commodore (ex-RML534), Red Commodore (ex- RML537) and Gay Commodore (RN serial unknown).


Postcard of White Commodore Queen - Click to open larger copy
White Commodore - www.simplonpc.co.uk






Fleet Commodore
 
Fleet Commodore was used on Guernsey services in 1949 and then from 1951 to 1965. She was a Royal Navy Fairmile B launch built in 1942.
 
For the record, the Commodore Fairmiles were Gay Commodore, White Commodore (ex-ML445), Silver Commodore (RML499), Fleet Commodore (RML534) and Red Commodore (RML537).
 
 
Postcard of Fleet Commodore.






Gay Commodore
 
Gay Commodore was part of the Commodore Cruises fleet of ex-Navy Fairmile 'B' launches. Gay Commodore has not been identified and reportedly went to Qatar as Shellex in 1948. However the photo below of her at Harwich is dated 1952. I have no further information about her use in the Ipswich/Harwich area.
 
For the record, the Commodore Fairmiles were Gay Commodore, White Commodore (ex-ML445), Silver Commodore (RML499), Fleet Commodore (RML534) and Red Commodore (RML537).
 
The Gay Commodore off Harwich.
Photo: © Philip Cone, August 1952
Click to open larger image in new window






Commodore Queen
 
Commodore Queen was used on Guernsey services between 1960 to 1969, and was sold in 1971.
 
Commodore Queen was built as the Rochester Queen (2), one of four LCG(M)(1) Class (Landing Craft gun, Medium Mark 1) conversions undertaken by the Jake Bolson Shipyard in Poole after the Second World War. Three vessels were used by the associated Bolson excursion boat company as the Bournemouth Skylark 4, 5 & 6, whilst the fourth became the Rochester Queen (2). She operated on the Medway and Thames on New Medway SP Co routes until 1956 when she was sold for coastal use in Germany as the Hein Mück. In 1961 she passed to Commodore Shipping as the Commodore Queen, and used for services in the Channel Islands. She spent a further 3 years in the Channels Islands as Jersey Queen with Jersey Car Ferries before leaving to work in Nigeria.


Postcard of Rochester Queen (2) at Clacton.



Postcard of Hein Mück (later Commodore Queen).



Postcard of Commodore Queen.



Postcard of Commodore Queen - Click to open larger copy
Commodore Queen - www.simplonpc.co.uk









Island Commodore (1)
 
Photograph of Island Commodore (1).
Photo: © Condor Ferries/Brian Green.






Commodore Clipper (1)
 
Photograph of Commodore Clipper (1) .
Photo: © Condor Ferries.
 
 
 
 
 
Norman Commodore (1)
 
Photograph of Norman Commodore (1) under construction.
Photo: © Condor Ferries.
 
 
 
 
 
Commodore Enterprise
 
Photograph of Commodore Enterprise.
Photo: © Condor Ferries.
 
 
 
 
 
Pride of Portsmouth (1989-1992)
Norman Commodore (3) (1993-1994)
 
Pride of Portsmouth was built as the Anu in Norway in 1972, one of four sisters. She was owned by Alander Frachtschiff of Hamburg, and had an initial charter with Avomeri Line running between Helsinki, Helsingborg and Århus. Between 1973-1974 she was chartered to North Sea Ferries as Norcliff, reverting to Anu afterwards. In 1979-1980 Anu was chartered to Tor Line for Gothenburg-Immingham service, followed by charter to Sealink as Lune Bridge on Irish Sea services. Further charters followed with B&I Line, the UK Ministry of Defence and Cenargo until used by Mols Linien between 1987-1989 between Sjællands Odde-Ebeltoft. She was temporarily renamed Mols Trader before entering service as Mads Mols (1). Following this she operated for Commodore Shipping to the Channel islands as Pride of Portsmouth and Norman Commodore (3). In December 1993, Norman Commodore (3) was seriously damaged by fire, and was out of service until the following June. She was replaced by the chartered Juniper. Within days of her return to service, Norman Commodore (3) was involved in another incident when lost engine control and sank the local passenger vessel Herm Trident IV. Since 1995 she has worked as Finnish Fjärdvägen between Långnäs and Nådendal.
 
 
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S169 of Pride of Portsmouth.
Photo: © Walter Sartori.
 
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S230 of Norman Commodore (3).
Photo: © Walter Sartori.
 
 
 
 
 
Juniper (1990-1991, 1994)
 
Juniper was chartered from TransEuropa Ferries to run with Pride of Portsmouth to convert the Portsmouth-Channel Islands service to full ro-ro operation. She did not prove to be totally suited, so was replaced by Commodore Clipper (4) in 1991. However, she returned to the fleet temporarily in 1994 when Norman Commodore (3) was damaged by fire.
 
 
Tropic Postcards issue T207 of Juniper, on TransEuropa Ferries Oostende-Ramsgate service.
Photo: © Photo Tropic (Yvan Broux)
 
 
 
 
 
Commodore Clipper (4) (1991-1996)
 
Commodore Clipper (4) was built in Norway as the Juno of Finska Ångfartygs Ab. She entered service between Finland and Lübeck. From 1978 received many charters including OY Bore Lines AB, North Sea Ferries, Brittany Ferries etc. In 1991, Juno was chartered to Commodore as the Commodore Clipper (4). The charter lasted until March 1996, and was followed by further charters to Pandoro, Fjord Line, Caledonian MacBrayne and Northlink as Hascosay.
 
 
Photograph of Commodore Clipper (4).
Photo: Hans Neels
 
Photograph of Commodore Clipper (4).
Photo: © Andreas Wörteler
 
 
 
 
 
Havelet (1994-2000)
 
Havelet was chartered by Condor to run winter services and cover for bad weather cancellations of the fast ferries when they achieved a monopoly of UK-Channel Islands services. The charter was ended on the delivery of Commodore Clipper (5).
 
 
Simplon Postcards release sp1198 of Havelet, issued August 1995.
Photo: © Anthony Meads.
 
 
 
 
 
Island Commodore (2) (1995-1999)
 
Photograph of Island Commodore.
Photo: © Kevin le Scelleur - Scan: Condor Ferries
 
 
Photograph of Island Commodore.
Photo: © Andreas Wörteler
 
 
Photograph of Island Commodore (rear) and Commodore Goodwill.
Photo: © Commodore.
 
 
 
 
 
Commodore Goodwill (1996- )
 
Commodore Goodwill was built by Koninklijke Scheldegroep B.V., Vlissingen, Holland, in 1996. She entered service with Commodore Ferries in March 1996 between Portsmouth and the Channel Islands. She is 126 m long, 11166 gross tons, and achieves 17.3 knots with MAK diesels totalling 8600 kW. Commodore Goodwill carries 12 passengers, 1250 lane metres for freight. Her sistership was Island Commodore.
 
Photograph of Commodore Goodwill (front) and Island Commodore.
Photo: © Commodore.
 
 
Photograph of Commodore Goodwill leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Kevin le Scelleur - Scan: Condor Ferries
 
 
Commodore Goodwill arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th April 2003.
 
 
Commodore Goodwill arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th April 2003
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Commodore Goodwill arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th April 2003.
 
 
Commodore Goodwill arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th April 2003.
 
 
Commodore Goodwill arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th April 2003.
 
 
Commodore Goodwill arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th April 2003.
 
 
Commodore Goodwill at Portsmouth Ferryport.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th April 2003.
 
 
Commodore Goodwill arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Commodore Goodwill arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Commodore Goodwill arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Commodore Goodwill arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Commodore Goodwill arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
 
 
 
Commodore Clipper (5) (1999- )
 
IMO number: 9201750 - Name of ship: COMMODORE CLIPPER - Call Sign: C6QQ3
Gross tonnage: 14000 - Type of ship: Passenger/Ro-Ro Cargo Ship - Year of build: 1999 - Flag: Bahamas
Built by van der Giessen-de Noord B.V. - Krimpen a/d IJssel Yard/hull No: 975
Commodore Clipper (5) was built by Van der Giessen-de Noord, Krimpen a/d Ijssel, Holland, in 1999. She entered service with Commodore Ferries in October 1999 between Portsmouth and the Channel Islands. She is 129 m long, 13460 gross tons, and achieves 18.8 knots with MAK diesels totalling 8640 kW. Commodore Clipper (5) carries 500 passengers, 279 cars and has 1265 lane metres for freight. Initially wearing the names of both Commodore and Condor, she later received full Condor Ferries livery.
 
 
Simplon Postcards sp1260, issued April 2000, of Commodore Clipper (5) leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th February 2000.
 
 
Edwards Postcards Br.f.8 of Commodore Clipper (5) leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © M.N.W.Edwards, 9th May 2000.
 
 
Edwards Postcards Br.f.8 of Commodore Clipper (5) leaving Portsmouth.
Enlarged image from the card above.
Photo: © M.N.W.Edwards, 9th May 2000.
 
 
Chantry Classics CC/S286 of Commodore Clipper (5).
Photo: © Walter Sartori.
 
 
Photograph of Commodore Clipper (5) leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th June 2002.
 
 
Photograph of Commodore Clipper (5) leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th June 2002.
 
 
Photograph of Commodore Clipper (5) leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th June 2002.
 
 
Photograph of Commodore Clipper (5) leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th June 2002.
 
 
Official Condor postcard of Commodore Clipper (5)
 
 
Commodore Clipper (5) leaving Portsmouth, in full Condor Ferries colours.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd May 2004.
 
 
Commodore Clipper (5) leaving Portsmouth, in full Condor Ferries colours.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd May 2004.
 
 
Commodore Clipper leaving Portsmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 11th December 2008
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Commodore Clipper leaving Portsmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 11th December 2008
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
 
 
 
Purbeck (2002)
 
Purbeck was built in 1978 by Soc. Nouvelle des At.& Ch. du Havre for Brittany Ferries. She entered service with their Truckline subsidiary between Cherbourg and Poole. In 1992 she started a service Roscoff-Plymouth-Santander, but was chartered to British Channel Island Ferries the following year for Poole-Channel Islands services. In 1994 Purbeck ran for Commodore Shipping from Portsmouth to the Channel Islands, followed by a varied career chartered to Sally Line, Irish Ferries, Gaelic Ferries, Falcon Seafreight before Tranz Rail from April 2004. This charter ended in August 2005 and she returned to Europe.
 
 
Purbeck on charter to Commodore Shipping.
Photo: © Andreas Wörteler.






Commodore Publicity


1965 Commodore brochure showing sailings on Commodore Queen and Island Commodore
Open Brochure as 40MB PDF File

1965 Commodore Brochure1965 Commodore Brochure








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