Condor Ferries sailings are being hit by the bad weather this weekend with sailings to St Malo also hit by ongoing industrial action.
And in a twist which pits Condor Ferries against a sister company, the ferry firm has revealed its parent company, the Condor Group, owns a firm which in turn owns 20% of SMM, the stevedore firm in the French port whose workers have downed tools.
SMM (St Malo Manutention) provides services for both freight and passengers in St Malo port and has five shareholders: Bolloré Ports, Brittany Ferries, L’Agence Maritime Malouine, Morvan Fils and Timac. Morvan Fils is a sister company of Condor Ferries and a part of the Condor Group.
Paul Luxon, Condor Ferries’ CEO, said: “We are dismayed that these factors, which are beyond our control, are once again, disrupting passengers and freight customers’ shipments and we understand they will naturally be very disappointed.”
“As islanders, we have all seen the damage caused by Storm Eleanor this week and I know that the impact has been felt both in St Malo and on the English south coast too. Condor Ferries is determined to minimise the effect these challenges have on passengers’ travel plans and our freight customers’ cargo shipments.”
Here are the revised sailing plans:
Commodore Clipper and Commodore Goodwill are both operating between the Channel Island and the UK in very high seas and windy conditions in ports to keep the islands connected and supplied.
Passengers affected are being contacted to make alternative arrangements.
The action in St Malo follows similar protests last November and December.
Condor Ferries crews have come in for widespread praise this week for keeping numerous sailings running amid some of the worst weather conditions for years.
