Condor Liberation ferry to be re-inspected

Condor Ferries said 70% of passengers due to travel on Friday and Saturday should travel on the day they were due to

The Condor Liberation ferry, which was detained in Poole, may be allowed to carry passengers again this weekend.

Safety issues were found on the high speed ferry, which operates to the Channel Islands, during a Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) inspection.

Condor Ferries said all the matters highlighted "have now been rectified".

It said the MCA would re-inspect the ferry on Friday and, if completed satisfactorily, the Liberation would return to service on Saturday.

A MCA spokesman said inspectors found 11 deficiencies with four grounds for detention - the main engine operation, steering gear operation, fire doors and ISM (International safety management code).

He said: "Release of the ship will be made only when MCA's inspectors are satisfied with the actions undertaken by the company."

MCA findings - Major failings

• Propulsion main engine - Not as required

• Steering gear - Inoperative

• Fire doors/Openings in fire resisting divisions - Not as required

• ISM (International safety management code)- Not as required

Other failings

• Emergency Steering Position - Inoperative

• Ready availability of firefighting equipment - Not Properly Stowed

• Public address system - Missing

• Other Safety in general - Other

• Maritime Labour certificate - Invalid

• Firefighting equipment and appliances - Not as required

• Fire Drills - Lack of training

Condor Ferries operates between the Channel Islands, St Malo, Portsmouth and Poole

The company has chartered a freight ship, MV Arrow, so the conventional ferry Commodore Clipper can concentrate on passenger services.

It said its plans for Friday and Saturday meant "freight services are unaffected" and would allow "around 70% of our passengers to travel on their expected day - albeit many of them on a different ship and/or at a different time".

The firm's other high speed ferry, Condor Rapide, is at Falmouth in dry dock for annual maintenance.

Friday's sailings

• Jersey to St Malo and UK to the Channel Islands passengers moved to Commodore Clipper

• St Malo to the Channel Islands and islands to the UK passengers offered full refund or travel on Saturday morning or night, respectively