Condor numbers up despite disruptions
Saturday 6th August 2011, 2:57PM BST.
Simon Edsall, managing director of Condor, addressing the Jersey Hospitality Association Picture: DAVID FERGUSON (01277763)
CONDOR Ferries has increased its passenger numbers despite suffering a nightmare year of repeated engine problems, the firm’s managing director has said.
Speaking at the Jersey Hospitality Association’s summer lunch at the St Brelade’s Bay Hotel this week, Simon Edsall said that following significant problems last year and earlier this year, the operator had suffered no major disruption this summer.
Mr Edsall told the audience that the firm had increased passenger numbers by 11 per cent in 2009, six per cent last year and was on course to increase passenger numbers again this year.
Condor faced months of criticism between last summer and this spring as all three of its fast catamarans suffered repeated mechanical problems.
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well its hard to fail , with a captive audiance and a its monopoly to boot.
the choice is stay on the rock or use the only means to get off with your car or motorbike.
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Because if people are unhappy they’ll instead use the services of….?
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Hardly surprising, really, given that it is the only operator. The figure simply shows that more people are travelling; it cannot have any bearing upon the merits of the service because Condor enjoys a captive market born of no competition.
This headline would make more sense if there were more than one operator but, as things stand, the statement by this gentleman is laughable and perhaps insulting to public intelligence.
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Well, this is great news for Condor. The loyal client base has stuck with the company through rough times.
A less dedicated client base would have gone elsewhere and booked tickets with another operator……..oh, hang on, I nearly forgot, there is no other operator. So, those who want to get off the island, particularly those with cars, have no alternative. What a wonderful business it must be.
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well no sh*t Sherlock! that might be because we have no other option!
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Well I for one might use them when their prices come down to what it costs UK travellers to get to Jersey. I find their prices too high for my liking.
I now fly instead of taking my car on the ferry as it can often end up costing less once petrol and wear and tear on my car is factored in and I haven’t got the hassle and wasted time needed to get to my end destination.
I just wish Emmeraude were still doing the Jersey – St.Malo route.
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‘No major disruption this summer’
July 22nd 2011. CONdor delayed by 2 1/2 hours to Poole.
Three other CONdor vessels were also delayed that evening.
Get the facts right!!!
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Raging!!!!!
Just got off the boat from guernsey,supposed to sail at 19.10 delayed till 20.15 then crawled along about 5 knots max ,then hung about outside the harbour for half an hour or so,finally got off the boat 22.10 only a half arsed apology from the captain,families stressed out completely. Condor deliver an over priced sub-standard service, who wouldn’t last five minutes if we had competion allowed to compete on a level playing field.
It really grates me giving money to this company but I have no choice.
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Perhaps this is because more people are taking one-way journeys off the rock
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Saw friends off last night Sat.6th August prime holiday season with big price increases compared to March. Boat late in from Guernsey by an hour,arrived middle of the night at Weymouth.
Rolls Royce prices and 1999 Fiat Punto service, is Condor competing with Flybe for the Channel Islands rip-off company of the year award.
Davey West.
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Well lets hope they invest some of the profit in more reliable vessels. Then again why would they, they can continue to offer a pi** poor service with accompanying poor customer service safe in the knowledge that there is no competition. Why not fine them tens of thousands if they fail to deliver.
It’s cheaper for me to fly and hire a car than to take my car on the ferry, less hassle too.
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Condor needs competition. Allow over companies on the market
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9. Parktown Prawn ———– Truthful words
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So #8, if its 20 nautical miles between Guernsey and Jersey, at 5 knots, it would have taken 4 hours, plus waiting time outside the hartbour (possibly due to port conjestion / tidal access)
Like most Condor moaners, your outburst is inaccurate and schould be taken from whence it comes.
The CI route is problematical, and no one else wants it ! Without Condor, we would be stuffed, awaiting for another one man band – i.e. HD Ferry (note reference to one ferry) with no back up.
I personally have no issues with Condor’s fare structure. It is my choice to live on Jersey !
If people have nothing better to do but to moan all day, clear off somewhere else !
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To coin a well known Jersey phrase;
“If you don’t like it, there’s a boat in the morning!”
Well, unless it isn’t broken down (again)…
;o) x
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I have to travel to the UK frequently (by car) I hate Condor ! I hate their prices, I hate their customer service I hate their smug attitude – as witnessed by the “increased numbers” story in any other area a customer would vote with their feet – but we are stuck with this horrible company !
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14 Warren J ( or is it Condor shareholder ) absolutely, how dare we expect a ferry company to adhere to their timetable when travellers have onward journeys to make. We are lucky to have Condor selflessly provide any kind of service at all, it’s not like they are making any money out of it.
The expercation voiced by some moaners that they should be kept up to date with accurate information when things go wrong is outrageous, what do you think they are, a service provider.
We are fortunate to have the Condor charity serve our needs, everyone knows that the length of water between here and the UK is among the most difficult to traverse in the world. Why only last week a chap in a blow up sunbed was unable to cross it, what chance has a ferry got.
I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself unless they best serve the interest of Condor, lest they leave us stranded on the impossible to reach rock.
Now bring on the idiots talking about captive market economics and blatent profiteering – pah you don’t know how lucky you are.
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Does this also add into account the rebookings because of cancellations.
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JK – I love it… so funny!
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14 Warren
What a ridiculous outburst!!
It is your choice to accept poor, sub-standard service….but, how dare you moan at others for NOT wanting to accept this!!
What has “choosing to live on Jersey” got to do with accepting unsatisfactory service?!
I suppose you wouldn’t mind if an ambulance turned up late (if at all) if you had an emergency…..well, it is your choice to live in Jersey after all isn’t it!
Perhaps it is YOU who should “clear off somewhere else”!
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I guess nearly half a century of using boats to and from this island, with a number of operators means nothing ! The times when I have been seriously delayed were not with Condor, but with Sealink and BCIF, using traditional slow ferries ! On one of these occasions, the delay was 24 hours while windows smashed by large waves were boarded up! On another occasion, a Sealink ferry, with 1/2 power took 14 hours to get to Weymouth.
The drivel and ignorance on this blog is unbelievable ! People have very short memories of previous operators trials and tribulations! What conection, #20 is an ambulance turning up late to an emergency got to do with a ferry, which has to operate within particular limits, being delayed, compounded by tidal access restrictions at St Helier ?
If running a ferry service is that simple with you know it alls, club together, form a company, raise some capital and buy a ferry ! There are plenty for sale you know !
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Get the bridge build and stop all this milarky. No more late or cancelled crossings and more importantly the customer chooses the time of departure and return and no £400 price tag either.
I would suggest people fly, it probably ends up cheaper to do so, once wear and tear and petrol etc is taken into account, to get your car from say Weymouth to the Lake District for example.
It also means you have more time at your holiday destination and the crossing doesn’t upset your stomach like a rough sea crossing can.
The last time I used Condor (a long time ago)we got in at lunch time so I wasted a good half day of my holidays.
The problem is punters from the other side get the better deal price wise and travel wise. We get to pay more for the same distance travelled plus the more inconvenient travel times.
I did quiz someone at Condor as to why this was so and got told it was a political decision as to why things were structured as they were!
Maybe someone from Condor could explain the pricing structure on here. I would be interested to see what their excuse was. Not that I’m holding my breath as I don’t expact an answer on this contentious issue.
Warren an interesting idea then it could be run as a nil profit making concern so as to reduce costs to the bare minimum. Private companies need to make a profit. That profit is an added expense to the cost of the service provided.
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Adrian #22,
Please tell me you made these comments in jest:
“Get the bridge build and stop all this milarky”
Hmmm. Where can we find billions of pounds to front this folly in the current financial climate? Something that an investor would never see a return on.
And:
“Private companies need to make a profit. That profit is an added expense to the cost of the service provided.”
Yes they make profit not to screw the customer as you imply but to be attractive to investors and enable them to raise equity. Running a large company with expensive assets on debt alone is far too risky for any lender.
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Warren J…
…I totally agree.
7. Postman Plod, I´d hardly call 1 sailing a bit late a major disruption.
No one here really seems to understand the waters in which Jersey is based. They are incredibly difficult to operate in. You have the Alderney race / Swinge nearby which have a worldwide reputation, the 2nd largest tidal range on the planet and, let´s face it, hardly a climate that lends itself to travelling on the sea.
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Adrian
‘Get the bridge build and stop all this milarky.’
Adrian, there is no chance there will ever be a bridge. The waters and the weather are totally unsuitable for both the construction and the operation. Is there anywhere else in the world where there is actually a bridge existing or even envisaged in comparable geographical and political conditions? I doubt it.
Bear in mind also that Jersey is currently a busy place due to quirks in the law. All that could change one day, although probably not in your or my lifetime (unfortunately).
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Stop making pathetic excuses….blaming the tidal conditions.
I have never seen the tide go so far out that it drains the dock of any water needed “to float a boat”!
It also does not excuse the fact that the boats have broken down on too many an occasion!!
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I always thought History was a boring subject at school, but as I have got older, I now appreciate it is usefull to know the background when assesing the present.
Back in the 1980′s, Sealink and BCIF were in cometition on the UK route with traditional slow boats, until Sealink decided that they had had enough, and withdrew services right in the middle of high season. This left BCIF, a local company in which many locals owned shares.
In 1989, the new Elizabeth Harbour opened, and while this does have deep water berths (note #26) the access route to this harbour has tidal restrictions.
In the early 90′s, Commodore, a freight operator to the UK and passenger only operator to France using the Condor hydrofoils thought that they would have a go at the UK passenger/car route with the introduction of Condor 10. The service proved very popular, the UK was now only 3 1/2 hours away, though it was accepted right from the start that fast ferries had operational limits. However, the travelling public preferred the fast boat, to a point that BCIF went bust, and many local investors lost their money.
Condor deveoped the UK route with fast ferries to a point that Jerseys harbour, with only 2 ramps has little spare capacity, when factoring in tidal restrictions. (Hence many delays at present caused by Port Conjestion in Jersey) There was however the issue of what to do when the fast ferries could not run because of the weather, which gave rise to a service agreement whereby the operator had to provide a traditional back up vessel, enter the
Commodore Clipper. I have always been given to understand that the fact that when a CI resident books a crossing on the fast ferry, they are effectivly also being provided with a back up space on the Clipper, but I stand to be corrected by a company representative. This may be a factor in a different fare structure for CI residents. (Possible answer to Adrian #22)
Two things do stand out, and that is that whenever there is competition on the CI routes, it is short lived, with the result that the underdog goes bust. Secondly, fares on the CI routes have NEVER been cheap – whereby I mean day returns between Dover and Calais for £1 plus five tokens from the Dialy Mail.
The situation that we have is political – Our governments first aim is for the islands to be served by operators who are dedicated to providing an all year round service, and this comes before cost. This comes about by way of a license agreement. It is not a sole monopoly contract – The market is open to those who want a slice of the action, but they must understand that they cannot just take the summer trade (HD!) leaving islanders isolated over the winter months.
At the risk of getting shot down (again!) I dont think the current fares are too bad, when compared with the cost of flying and hiring a car. It is clear that Jersey’s population travel more than they did 20 years ago, when perhaps a trip ‘off island’ was an annual event. I know many people who travel off island, by whatever means, 3 or 4 times a month, and they are thus likely to get caught up in delays for whatever reason, either weather or operational.
The introduction of Fast Ferries has significnatly increased sea travel to the islands. Condor is the only operator who has used such craft on the UK route and thus it is difficult to determine if their service is any worse or better than another operator on this route, using such high speed craft.
Jersey does need a bigger harbour, with a third ramp, no tidal access restrictions and more marshalling space. It is a shame so much building has been undertaken on the West of Albert site but that is another story.
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27. Parktown Prawn…
The tide drops low enough to stop the ferries entering, so yes it does “go out far enough” in your terminology.
The extreme stresses under which the machinery on board are placed under….I can´t be bothered to go in to. I´m impressed that they manage to keep it running as frequently as they do.
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Everytime I have sailed on Condor the boat has been delayed. Not a one off – I sail approximately 3 times a year to France or the UK and the boat is yet to leave on time.
Charges to get off this rock are extortionate whether by boat or plane and the channel must be the most expensive stretch of water on the planet to traverse.
Is there not an equation that if you lower your fares more people will travel?
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28; I agree. We are fortunate indeed that the ferries do stay running at all. After all, with no competetion, any service is better than nothing.
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joker nevertheless no matter how you like to dress it up this is an added cost to the operation. I do not think vital links should be in private hands.
As for follies we have had many of these costing untold millions in the past.
RBB I have never heard of the wrong type of salt water preventing a bridge being built. Bridges can also withstand wind if built with an understanding of local conditions.
If you remember back to the 50′s France was rather keen to get the outlying reefs to the east of Jersey. Have you ever asked why?
warren do you think this alleged back up is
1. worth the price difference.
2. isn’t also offered to the far end.
If it is 2. this negates your reply!
Maybe someone from Condor could explain this? It would be good to have their explaination as to the price difference. However I am not holding my breath!!!
I fly and hire a car at the far end. This invariably means:-
I save time.
I travel at the time that best suits me.
I save money.
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25 R B Bougard
There are bridges in the east, notably in Japan between the north and south main islands. I’m sure a bridge is feasible, but not necessarily economical.
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31. Adrian
There are no longer any flights to Dinard or any nearby French airports that are convenient for Jersey travellers. Not everyone wants to go to England.
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33; Nigel, too right in last paragraph, the trouble is, they all want to come here!
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WarrenJ has missed one point in which was said that the Clipper was the back up vessel. Before that it was the Havelet- -I will never forget driving onto the ship and having to put the car in a kind of turntable which was manually turned so that most cars were on the open deck. Wasn’t it a lovely ship?!! straight out of the “Antiques Roadshow! It was the worst and dirtiest ship I have ever been on!
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Nigel, #32. I did say “in comparable geographical and political conditions”.
Nevertheless I can’t find anything on Google Maps to suggest that you are correct, other than a broken line across the Tsugaru Straits but no image of a bridge as such.
Adrian, I despair. How can you interpret my comment about waters as being related to right or wrong salinity? The term ‘waters’in this context refers to tides and currents, roughness versus calmness, danger versus safety and generable suitability for crossing. I don’t think any mariner who mentions “Channel Islands waters” is thinking about additional marks on Plimsoll lines.
On the other hand, If you could see the rust in the nooks and crannies of my vehicles that have travelled on the semi open deck of the Clipper during heavy weather, you might like to coat your car in thick grease before nipping across that bridge of yours of an evening to enjoy that French supper. The wind might get up by the time you have to come back.
Good point about Dinard airport, though. Perhaps it is something to do with people wanting to take their car with them to France and ship back loads of supplies?
However, if the ‘must get off the rock’ brigade just want to have lunch in Dinan etc., flying would make sense. The wealthy already do this using private planes.
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