Condor Ferries’ freight and passenger services from Portsmouth to the Channel Islands suffered disruption after ro-pax vessel Commodore Clipper (1999/13,460gt) had to go to dry dock at Falmouth for hull repairs after making contact with the sea bottom in the Little Russel while sailing towards Guernsey on 14 July.
Initially, Commodore Clipper sailings from Portsmouth to St Peter Port and St Helier were cancelled until 26 July, but it then became clear that a longer stay at the A&P yard would be needed. With the vessel not expected back until 26 August, Condor switched all freight to ro-ro Commodore Goodwill (1996/11,166gt) and provided additional fast craft sailings. Condor then brought in French-owned ro-ro vessel MN Toucan (1995/9,140gt) to operate to and from Guernsey, with a first call to collect empty trailers on 29 July, leaving Commodore Goodwill to concentrate on Jersey sailings.
MN Toucan, built in Holland at the Merwede Yard in Kinderdijk and owned by Maritime Nantaise, is a trailer ferry with no driver accommodation. She previously operated in UK waters on charter to Northlink in 2007.
