Simplon - The Passenger Ship Website - www.simplonpc.co.uk
Simplon facebook - Simplon Home - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Recent Updates - Search Simplon - Copyright Information - Contact Simplon
This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation - There are no postcards for sale on this website




Condor Ferries
 
Condor Ferries Page 2: Fast Ferries
 
 
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the fast craft Condor Ferries. Conventional ferries of Commodore Shipping are shown on Condor - Page 1. 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 of Fast Ferries.
 
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. 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.
 
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. This company was two thirds owned by Onesimus Dorey & Sons, led by Peter Dorey. The remaining third was largely held by Jack Norman of Commodore, linking the two companies. Jack Norman and Peter Dorey visited the Italian hydrofoil builders Rodriquez in Messina, Sicily, and bought at PT50 class vessel for around £200,000. Condor 1 entered service in 1964. After some experimentation, services settled with Condor 1 being based at Jersey running trips to St Malo, Guernsey and Sark. Following the collapse of Jersey Lines in 1969, there was potential for extra sailings by Condor, filled with the charter of Condor 2. She was chartered for two seasons in 1969-1970 until the delivery of Condor 3, A third hydrofoil, Condor 4, joined the fleet in 1974, and in 1976 the pioneer Condor 1 was replaced by Condor 5. Peter Dorey was lost at sea in a sailing accident in 1979, his interest passing to his wife.
 
Advances in fast ferry technology were being made in other countries, particularly Norway, and in 1980 a gas-turbine powered catamaran Condor 6 was chartered, built by Westmarin of Mandal. She carried 260 passengers, compared to 180 of the Condor 5, and replaced the Condor 3. Unfortunately Condor 6 suffered technical problems and the charter was not repeated. Condor 2 was chartered again the following year 1981 in her place, but increased competition led to a reduction to two craft again, Condor 4 and Condor 5, in 1982. In 1983, Commodore Shipping acquired all remaining shares in Condor which it did not own, and David Norman was appointed managing director. Condor returned to their tried and tested Rodriquez hydrofoils in 1985, with the delivery of Condor 7, but she was the last of these craft acquired. The next vessel bought in 1988 was a catamaran Condor 8, built in Singapore and carrying 300 passengers. The next new ferry increased passenger capacity again, to 450 passengers. Condor 9 was built in Fareham by Aluminium Shipbuilders, and entered service in August 1990 on Weymouth-Jersey-Guernsey services.
 
- to be completed -
 
Reference:-
Commodore Shipping - The First Half Century 1947-1997: Kevin le Scelleur - published by Commodore Shipping
 
Fast Ferries on This Page:-
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- )

Commodore Ships on Page 1:-
Clare (2000)
Commodore Clipper (1)
Commodore Clipper (4) (1991-1996)
Commodore Clipper (5) (1999- )
Commodore Enterprise
Commodore Goodwill (3) (1996- )
Commodore Queen
Fleet 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
 
 
Associated Pages:-
Commodore Shipping
Condor - Page 1 - Conventional ferries
Condor - Page 2 - Fast ferries of Condor Ferries - this page!
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page
 
Search This Website:-

powered by FreeFind  



Table of Ship Histories
Name
Other names
 Built
 Condor Express  
 1996






Fast Ferries Fleet List
 
Condor 1 (1964-1977)
 
Condor 1 was built in 1964, and served until 1976. She was sold the following year. She was 27.89m in length, and 127 grt. Her cruising speed was 33 knots, carrying 140 passengers. After some experimentation, services settled with Condor 1 being based at Jersey running trips to St Malo, Guernsey and Sark. She was joined by the chartered Condor 2 in 1969 and 1970, and then the larger Condor 3 from 1971.
 
 
Photograph of Condor 1.
Photo: © Kevin le Scelleur - Scan: Condor Ferries
 
 
Jarrald's Cotman-Color postcard J158 of Condor 1.
 
 
Photo Precision Colourmaster postcard PT29600 of Condor 1.
 
 
E.T.W.Dennis postcard A.1 of Condor 1.
 
 
John Hinde postcard 2/1018 of Condor 1.
 
 
Postcard ACG143 of Condor 1 at Jersey.
Photo: David A. Fry.
 
 
John Hinde postcard 2J50 of Condor 1.
 
 
John Hinde postcard 2J90 of Condor 1, using the image from the card above.
 
 
EMGE (St Malo) postcard 1894 of Condor 1.
 
 
 
 
 
Condor 2 (1969-1970, 1981)
 
Condor 2 was built in 1968, and of similar size to Condor 1. Following the collapse of Jersey Lines, there was potential for extra sailings by Condor, filled with the charter of Condor 2. She was chartered for two seasons in 1969-1970 until the delivery of Condor 3, and again in 1981 to replace Condor 6, but was never owned by Condor.
 
No image available
 
 
 
 
 
Condor 3 (1971-1980)
 
E.T.W.Dennis postcard 67 of Condor 3.
 
 
E.T.W.Dennis postcard G49 of Condor 3.
 
 
N.P.O.Dexter postcard C2161--8130C of Condor 3.
 
 
 
 
 
Condor 4 (1974-1993)
 
Ile de Jersey (St Helier), postcard of Condor 4.
The lines on the image are due to the canvas-effect surface on the card, not a scanning fault.
 
 
Condor postcard of Condor 4.
Published: Guernsey Press - Photo: © Brian Read.
 
 
Photograph of Condor 4.
Photo: © Kevin le Scelleur - Scan: Condor Ferries.
 
 
 
 
 
Condor 5 (1976-1993)
 
E.T.W.Dennis postcard G49 (the same serial as a card of Condor 3) of Condor 5.
 
 
Condor postcard of Condor 5.
Published: Guernsey Press - Photo: © Brian Read.
 
 
A.C.Galle postcard AOG159 of Condor 5.
Published: Guernsey Press - Photo: © Brian Read.
 
 
J.Salmon postcard 023/088 of Condor 5 at Weymouth.
 
 
 
 
 
Condor 6 (1980)
 
Condor 6 was chartered for the 1980 season only. She was a 260-seat water-jet catamaran, powered by gas-turbine engines, but suffered from technical problems and the charter was not renewed. She was replaced by a further charter of Condor 2 in 1981.
 
 
E.T.W.Dennis postcard G4 of Condor 6.
 
 
 
 
 
Condor 7 (1985-1994)
 
Condor postcard of Condor 7.
 
 
Condor postcard of Condor 7.
 
 
Photograph of Condor 5.
Photo: © Kevin le Scelleur - Scan: Condor Ferries.
 
 
 
 
 
Condor 8 (1988-1997)
 
Condor postcard of Condor 8.
 
 
Photograph of Condor 8.
Photo: © Condor Ferries.
 
 
 
 
 
Condor 9 (1990-2002)
 
Condor 9 was built in Fareham by Aluminium Shipbuilders. She entered service with Condor in August 1990 on Weymouth-Jersey-Guernsey services. She continued on this service until 1993 when she was replaced by the car-carrying Condor 10. During the summer of 1994, Condor 9 was chartered to Viking Line for Helsinki-Tallinn services as Viking Express, followed by a winter charter in the Caribbean. In 1995, she ran some trips from Torquay, whilst in 1997, Poole was used as the UK mainland port. In 2002, Condor 9 was sold to Stetson Navigation as the Cortez, and used between La Paz and Topolobampo across the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) in Mexico. The service started in May 2002, and operated for about a year, until halted by engine problems. In 2004, Cortez was sold to Wronowski in the USA, as Jessica W.
 
 
Condor postcard of Condor 9.
 
 
Condor postcard of Condor 9.
 
 
Condor postcard of Condor 9.
 
 
Condor postcard of Condor 9.
 
 
Photograph of Condor 9.
Photo: © Kevin le Scelleur - Scan: Condor Ferries.
 
 
Photograph of Cortez (ex-Condor 9) on La Paz-Topolobampo service.
Photo: © Fred T.Metcalf, La Paz.
 
Photograph of Cortez (ex-Condor 9) on La Paz-Topolobampo service.
Photo: © Fred T.Metcalf, La Paz.
 
 
Photograph of Cortez (ex-Condor 9) on La Paz-Topolobampo service.
Photo: © Fred T.Metcalf, La Paz.
 
 
 
 
 
Condor 10 (1993-1996, 2002)
 
Condor 10 was the first car-carrying fast ferry used by Condor. She is InCat hull number 030, and was delivered from Hobart in March 1993. Condor 10 operated the main services of Condor from Weymouth to Guernsey and Jersey through the summer of 1994, then returned to the Southern Hemisphere for the (northern) winter of 1994/1995 for a charter with New Zealand Railways between Wellington and Picton as The Lynx. She returned north to Helsinki, and spent the summer of 1995 with Viking Line running to Tallinn as Viking Express I, replacing Condor 9 which had run the service the previous summer. At the end of the summer, Condor 10 returned to New Zealand for Tranz Rail service between Wellington and Picton, returning in April 1996 for a summer with Stena Line between Fishguard and Rosslare. The Tranz Rail charter was repeated again between November 1996 and April 1997, her northern summer this year being spent with Holyman Sally Ferries between Ramsgate and Dunkerque. New Zealand Tranz Rail charters were repeated in 1997/1998 and 1998/1999, with summer 1998 laid up in Weymouth after a Euroferrys (Algeciras) charter fell through. The (Northern Hemisphere) summer of 1999 was spent laid up in Hobart, apart from a couple of weeks between Melbourne and Georgetown in September. Condor 10 did not return north again until March 2002, when she returned to Condor service between Jersey, Guernsey and St Malo.
 
 
Condor postcard of Condor 10 in Weymouth Bay.
 
 
Condor postcard of Condor 10
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
 
Photograph of Condor 10.
Photo: © Kevin le Scelleur - Scan: Condor Ferries.
 
 
Postcard of Condor 10 at Weymouth.
 
 
Postcard of Condor 10 as The Lynx, on charter in New Zealand.
 
 
Postcard of Condor 10 on charter to Viking Line.
 
 
 
 

Condor 11 (1995)
 
Condor 11 was built in 1994 as InCat hull 034. She was delivered to Holyman Ltd of Sydney in March 1995, and travelled to Europe. She was chartered to Condor for service from Jersey and Guernsey to Weymouth through the summer of 1995 as Condor 11. In December 1995 she entered service between Århus and Kalundborg in Denmark with Cat-Link, named the Cat-Link II. She remained on this service until May 1998, when she was chartered to Euroferrys as Euroferrys I for service between Algeciras and Ceuta. From May 2005 she was named Euroferrys Primero. Subsequent years were spent laid up in Algeciras, Portland, Weymouth and Denmark, under names Cat-Link II and Elanora, until sold to Egyptian owners El Salam Maritime in April 2004.
 
No image available
 
 
 
 
 
Condor France (1996-1999)
 
Condor postcard of Condor France.
 
 
 
 
 
Condor 12 (1996-1997)
 
No image available
 
 
 
 
 
Condor Express (1997- )
 
IMO number: 9135896 - Name of ship: CONDOR EXPRESS - Call Sign: C6SK5
Gross tonnage: 5005 - Type of ship: Passenger/Ro-Ro Cargo Ship - Year of build: 1996 - Flag: Bahamas

Condor Express was built by Incat Australia, Hobart, Tasmania, in 1996, and is Incat hull number 042. She is 86.6 m long and 5005 gross tons. Ruston diesels of a total of 28320 kW give a speed of 40 knots. Condor Express can carry 776 passengers and 200 cars. She arrived at Poole on 15th January 1997, for services to the Channel Islands from Weymouth and Poole.
 
More images of Condor Express
 
 
Postcard of Condor Express, with Transocean Tours cruise ship Calypso in the background.
 
 
Photograph of Condor Express.
Photo: © Kevin le Scelleur - Scan: Condor Ferries.
 
 
Condor Express arriving at St Peter Port
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd June 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Condor Express arriving at St Peter Port
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd June 2007
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Condor Express arriving at St Peter Port
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th August 2008
Click to open larger image in new window
Condor Express at St Peter Port - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th August 2008 - www.simplonpc.co.uk
 
 
 
 
 
Condor Vitesse (1998- )
 
Condor Vitesse was built by Incat Australia, Hobart, Tasmania, in 1997 for International Catamarans. She is Incat hull number 044. She is 86.6 m long and 5005 gross tons. Ruston diesels of a total of 28320 kW give a speed of 40 knots. Condor Express can carry 800 passengers and 200 cars. After travelling to Europe, she was initially laid up in Portland, UK, and then Århus, Denmark. In 1998 she was chartered to Condor as the Condor Vitesse for services from Weymouth to Jersey, Guernsey and St Malo. In November 1999 she travelled south to New Zealand for a charter with Tranz Rail between Wellington and Picton across the Cook Strait as The Lynx. She returned to Weymouth in April/May 2000. She operated for Condor from Poole to Jersey, Guernsey and St Malo throughout the summer of 2000, and then on a joint Brittany Ferries/Condor service between Poole and Cherbourg during the summers of 2001 to 2004.
 
 
Photograph of Incat 044 laid up at Århus, before her first charter.
Photo: © Sören Lund Hviid - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
Photograph of Condor Vitesse.
Photo: © Fotoflite.
 
 
Photograph of Condor Vitesse as The Lynx.
Photo: © Yvon Perchoc, Djibouti, 16/11/1999 on her journey from Weymouth to Wellington.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
Photograph of Condor Vitesse on the joint service with Brittany Ferries.
Photo: © Condor Ferries.
 
 
Photograph of Condor Vitesse on the joint service with Brittany Ferries.
Photo: © Nicolas Levy - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
Condor Vitesse at the Poole ferry terminal.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st June 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condor - Page 1   -   Condor - Page 2
Ferry Postcards   -   Cruise Ship Postcards   -   Ocean Liner Postcards
Top of Page   -   Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates   -   Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
 






Free Web Counter
Times viewed since 12/09/2008: