Bluebridge Cook Strait FerriesBornholmstrafikkenCondor FerriesFerriesPast and Present

MV Condor Islander (ex Straitsman) – Past and Present

IMO Number: 9323704

MV Condor Islander

ex Straitsman, Dueodde

Condor Ferries

© Condor Ferries

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 2005 by Royal Bodewes Scheepswerf Volharding, Foxhol, Holland. (Yard No 579) as a Passenger/Ro-Ro Cargo Ship for Bornholmstrafikken, Ronne, Denmark

Technical Data

  • Length: 124.90 m (overall) 115.10 m (between perpendiculars)
  • Breadth: 23.40 m
  • Depth: 14.30 m
  • Draught: 5.30 – 5.60 m
  • Tonnage: 13906 gross/5142 net/2883 (Design) – 3437 (Scantling) deadweight
  • Engines: (2) 4T – 9 cylinder x MaK 9M32 diesels
  • Power: 8640 kW/11747 bHP
  • Speed: 18.5 knots
  • Capacity: 400 passengers/ 200 cars/1235 – 1500 lane meters
  • Call Sign: OYBB, ZMSM, C6GM5
  • MMSI Number: 311001287
  • IMO Number: 9323704
  • BV Register Number: 08593S
  • Port of Registry: Ronne/Denmark 🇩🇰, Wellington/New Zealand 🇳🇿, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸
  • Sister Ship: Hammerodde (702)
  • Near Sisters: Commodore Clipper (378), Ben-My-Chree (971)


Current AIS Location


Please note that this specific vessels AIS position data may be over an hour old and that the vessels position will only be displayed when it is within range of the VesselFinder AIS system. The AIS transponder/ship position data featured on this page is intended for information purposes only and it is in no way related to the 'Safety of Navigation at Sea'. All the AIS ship position data featured within this article is provided by VesselFinder and we are therefore not responsible for its content or its accuracy.


History

As with her sister, HAMMERODDE, Van der Giessen-de Noord (VGN) based design.

July 20th 2004: Keel laid.

Postcard

Postcard

April 22nd 2005 – April 24th 2005: Trials

April 27th 2005: Delivered to Bornholmstrafikken, Ronne, Denmark.

April 29th 2005: Arrived in Ronne.

April 30th 2005: Service Ronne – Ystad/Koge/Sassnitz.

© Simonwp

© Simonwp (Ronne, 01/07/2005)

© Andreas Wörteler  © Andreas Wörteler

© Andreas Wörteler  © Andreas Wörteler

© Andreas Wörteler (Ystad)

November 14th 2005: In bad weather collided with a pier and diving platform in Ronne.

January 11th 2010 – January 18th 2010: Refit in Szczecin, Poland.

September 2010: Sold to Strait Shipping, New Zealand.

October 10th 2919: Last day in service for Bornholmstrafikken.

October 10th 2010: Arrived Fredericia.

October 13th 2010: Registered to Straitsman Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand. Manager: StraitNZ Bluebridge Ltd and renamed STRAITSMAN.

October 20th 2010: Left Fredericia for Wellington via Las Palmas.

December 9th 2010: Arrived Wellington.

Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries  Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries

© Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries

December 4th 2010: Trials Wellington/Picton.

December 9th 2010: Services Wellington – Picton.

© Chris Howell

© Chris Howell (Wellington, 03/06/2012)

© John Wilson  © John Wilson

© John Wilson

© John Wilson (Brisbane, 03/07/2012)

November 27th 2018: In bad weather collided with a a navigation light while berthing in Wellington. The ship was assessed for any damage before to its next departure.

February 13th 2019: Hit a navigation light at the end of a wharf at the Wellington terminal. The ferry was assessed for damage before its next departure. There were no reports of injuries.

March 8th 2023: Announcement made that the vessel had been sold to Condor Ferries who will introduce her into service between Portsmouth – Jersey/Guernsey in the autumn of 2023.

April 2nd 2023: Withdrawn from service.

April 4th 2023: Noted as having been renamed CONDOR ISLANDER.

© Condor Ferries

© Condor Ferries

April 18th 2023: Left Wellington (destination showing as Papeete, French Polynesia eta 26/04/2023).

April 27th 2023: Arrived Papeete,

May 15th 2023: Arrived Panama Canal Anchorage.

June 12th 2023: Arrived Santander for refit.

June 26th 2023: Entered Astilleros de Santander S.A.U. Shipyard Drydock.

July 27th 2023: Completed refit

July 28th 2023: Sea trials.

Condor Ferries

© Condor Ferries

July 31st 2023: Arrived Saint Peter Port. Guernsey

” ………….to conduct mooring trials and training for the company’s crew and port staff.

The ship will then undertake similar trials in Saint Helier, St Malo and Cherbourg before continuing her journey to the UK to complete her refit.”

Condor Ferries

© Condor Ferries (Guernsey, 31/07/2023)

July 31st 2023: Arrived Saint Helier.

August 1st 2023: Arrived Saint Malo.

August 1st 2023: Arrived Jersey Anchorage.

August 3rd 2023: Maiden arrival at Portsmouth for trials.

© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)  © Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)  © Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

August 3rd 2023: Left Portsmouth for Poole.

© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

August 3rd 2023: Arrived Poole Anchorage.

August 4th 2023: Arrived Poole.

© Brigitte Barnes  © Brigitte Barnes

© Brigitte Barnes

© Brigitte Barnes

August 25th 2023: Left Poole.

August 25th 2023: Inaugural arrival Southampton.

August 27th 2023: Left Southampton and returned to Poole.

© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)  © Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

October 20th 2023: Left Poole for Portsmouth.

© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic) © Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

October 20th 2023: Arrived Portsmouth to take up service Portsmouth – Channel Islands.

October 21st 2023: Anticipated inaugural service Portsmouth – Channel Islands ( 20/10/2023 Update Condor Ferries: : Sailings cancelled owing to forecast Storm Babet).

October 22nd 2023: Inaugural passenger sailing Portsmouth – Guernsey (Channel Islands).

October 24th 2023: Delayed arrival in St Helier owing to technical issues.

October 25th 2023: Announcement:

“An issue with the Condor Islander’s forward bow thrusters means it is being temporarily pulled from service.

The announcement has been made just days after the vessel’s first commercial voyage to Guernsey.

“Sailings affected are from Thursday 26 October through to Thursday 02 November, when she will resume services from Portsmouth to the Islands,” said a spokesperson for Condor.

“The limited number of passengers affected are being notified by contact centre staff and offered alternative sailings.

“We regret the inconvenience caused which is being compounded by poor weather forecast for this weekend.”

October 26th 2023: Came off service at St Peter Port and sailed for Liverpool.

October 27th 2023: Arrived Liverpool Anchorage.

October 28th 2023: Arrived Birkenhead for repairs.

© Robert Foy © Robert Foy © Robert Foy

© Robert Foy (Birkenhead, 28/10/2023)

© Robert Foy © Robert Foy

© Robert Foy (Birkenhead, 29/10/2023)

November 2nd 2023: Left Birkenhead for trials.

© Robert Foy

© Robert Foy (Birkenhead, 02/11/2023)

November 2nd 2023: Arrived Canada Dock, Liverpool.

November 3rd 2023: Left Liverpool for Portsmouth.

November 4th 2023: Called at Fishguard for “bunkers” and storm shelter.

November 6th 2023 (12.57 LT UTC): Left Fishguard for Portsmouth.

November 7th 2023: Arrived Portsmouth.

November 7th 2023: Took up services Portsmouth – Channel Islands.


All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries, Brigitte Barnes, Condor Ferries, Robert Foy, Chris Howell, Simonwp and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

Special thanks go to Gary and Patsy Davies (Maritime Photographic)

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)

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