Condor is to run five freight sailings per week between St Malo and Jersey from April using Condor Voyager after receiving certification to carry cargo on its high speed vessels.
The move allows the ferry company to transport more ambient and temperature controlled products from St Malo on its timetabled sailings.
Condor has operated a weekly freight only round trip between the Islands, France and Portsmouth on Goodwill since the early 1990s and the extension of this service will increase capacity by 204 lane metres per week, which is equivalent to three 13.6m containers per crossing.
John Napton (pictured), Condor’s CEO, said he was really pleased that accreditation had been granted. “We are delighted that approval has been received as we have been working on this initiative for quite some time, particularly since Voyager entered the fleet last summer.
“Voyager is a larger vessel than her predecessor, with a corresponding greater deck carrying capacity and the regular sailings will help develop the range of products and materials that can be brought into the Islands.”
Mark Cox, CEO of the Channel Islands Co-operative Society said: “We are pleased that Condor is providing the opportunity for a more frequent freight supply from France, this will provide us with further opportunities to expand our popular range of French products.”
Condor’s new service will operate year round, commencing in April on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays and using its existing schedules to Jersey from St Malo.
Freight forwarding operations, including post-Brexit documentation and customs formalities, will be handled by Morvan Fils Transit and Condor, which are accredited agents in the Islands. Morvan Fils has more than 100 years’ experience in the freight and logistics market in the Channel Islands and is part of the Condor group.