M/V Commodore Clipper

Commodore Clipper was ordered by Commodore Shipping on 3rd July 1998 following a request of the Channel Islands’ government. Indeed, Condor Ferries scrapped in 1997 its conventional ferry service from Weymouth, operating only high speed crafts. However, they proved not being able being operated in inclement sea conditions, whilst Condor Express suffered a myriad of technical issues in 1997. Therefore, the governments asked Condor Ferries to keep Havelet as a back up ship until the delivery of a new purpose-built ferry if they were wanting to keep their operating agreement.

Therefore, Condor Ferries and Commodore Shipping (the owner of Condor Ferries at the this time) ordered a ship that would replace both Havelet and Island Commodore (a RoRo ferry built in 1995), and that would be operated from Weymouth.

Commodore Clipper was launched one 8th May 1999 and eventually introduced on the Portsmouth – Saint-Peter Port – Saint-Helier – Portsmouth round service on 27th September, only carrying trailers. Her first crossings with passengers on board took place on 18th October.

In 2005, due to Condor Ferries’ policy of operating all of its services under its brand, Commodore Clipper was repainted to remove any mention of Commodore Shipping on her.

On 16th June 2010 at 02:42 GMT, a cooled trailer parked on Commodore Clipper's car deck took fire. Crew was unable to extinguish the fire alone and firemen had to help them once the vessel had berthed. The fire damaged several other trailers alongside Commodore Clipper’s electrical system, preventing her from being operated. Commodore Clipper had therefore to be removed from service until the completion of repairs. She resumed service on 4th July.

On 26th April 2011, a fire took in a boiler located in her engine room. Crew achieved extinguishing the fire without help.

Whilst Commodore Clipper was arriving in Saint-Peter Port on 14th July 2014, she grounded. Her hull was damaged but Commodore Clipper had been able to berth without assistance. To enable repairs to be carried out, she had to be drydocked and Commodore Goodwill had to operate alone cover for her schedule whilst operating her schedule too. MN Toucan was chartered on 29th July to provide additional freight capacity, and then Arrow on 31st July. Passengers were transferred on the alternative high speed services operated from Weymouth and Poole. Commodore Clipper was scheduled to resume service on 26th August, however works were completed ahead of schedule and she eventually resumed service on 16th August.

The enquiry that followed this grounding highlighted that it was due to the lack of vigilance from the crew, that was not using all of the instruments it has at its disposal. It also highlighted that some drills have also been disabled.

In order to enable its ships to the latest European Regulations regarding sulphur exhausts, that has been enforced since 1st January 2015, Condor Ferries ordered to Dupont scrubbers for installing on both Commodore Clipper and Commodore Goodwill.

They were to be installed on Commodore Clipper during a drydock between 10th September and 11th October 2015. However, due to scrubbers delivered behind schedule, the installation could not be completed and therefore she has only been overhauled. Commodore Clipper was then sent back to drydock from 04th November to 14th December 2015 on the purpose of eventually installing them on board.