WATCH: Barfleur's trial docking in Guernsey a success

Thursday, 25 April 2024 07:42

Brittany Ferries completes its CI berthing trials by coming alongside in St Peter Port without a hitch.

Brittany Ferries is a near third shareholder in Condor and in recent weeks has been asserting that power, a year away from the tender to find an operator to serve the islands' freight and passenger networks.

The CEO of Brittany Ferries, Christophe Mathieu, has taken the helm at Condor on a temporary basis, following the departure earlier this year of John Napton.

DFDS has been in the islands this week, on a charm offensive and fact-finding mission and it trial berthed one of its large vessels in both islands late in 2023. It is interested in bidding for Condor's routes.

Yesterday teatime ( 24 April) the Barfleur could be seen steaming slowly down the Russell from her home port of Cherbourg. It had to pause while Condor's Islander left St Peter Port, then, preceded by a pilot boat and watched over by a tug, it came into the harbour.

Crowds had gathered on top of the White Rock terminal, next to the Yacht Club and along the Castle Emplacement to watch the Barfleur slowly make a turn to port and ease into its berth and back onto the ro ro ramp.

It seemed to go seamlessly for the 157 metre long vessel, but it did berth in perfect weather with little or no wind and clear, sunny skies. A similar trial was carried out in Jersey in March, again successfully.

The Barfleur can take 900 passengers, has 72 cabins and room for 590 cars. Its trial in both islands is part of a business continuity plan.