Condor changes ferry sailings ahead of storms

A "number of changes" have been made ahead of expected storms

A ferry service has made a "number of changes" to sailings between the Channel Islands, Poole and St Malo over the next week due to expected weather disruption.

Condor Ferries said storm Storm Ciarán, which is set to hit on Wednesday, and a second storm expected Saturday would bring up to 8m (26ft) waves and wind speeds of more than 60 knots.

It cancelled and amended a number of sailings in October due to adverse weather conditions.

The firm said it did not expect to provide any high speed sailings until Tuesday 7 November.

Condor said it had altered sailings, encouraged passengers to transfer to earlier options and was "evaluating options for maintaining the provision of food and medicines to the islands".

Elwyn Dop, operations director, said "every effort" would be made to ensure food supply to the islands would continue.

He said: "We have obviously experienced spells of adverse weather affecting sailings in the past, but I doubt there has been such risk of disruption which may last for over a week; and also where conditions could be outside the safe operating limits for all of our vessels.

"Our importance to the food supply chain is also understood, so every effort will be made to ensure we continue."

The Liberation and Voyager's sailings on Tuesday from Poole and St Malo will run on a revised route and time, whereas Wednesday departures from France to Jersey and Guernsey have been cancelled.

The Goodwill and Clipper are scheduled to sail on Tuesday and Wednesday, but with "cancellations" and "significant disruption" expected from Thursday.