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EVENTS 2023 ~~ online & local venue  ~~ see EVENTS for details and to join.

Our 2023 events are "hybrid" ~ enjoy online or at our Dorset venue ~ see & hear about Carnival Breeze, Şehit Caner Gönyeli, Orcades and many more ships - brought to you by our enthusiastic speakers. 

Talks & Meetings on Ocean Liners, Cargo Ships, Ferries, Mariner's Memoirs, Paddle Steamers, Cruise Ships, Naval History, Ship Design, Maritime Memories and much more ~ enjoyed by ships & shipping enthusiasts ~ a community with common interests 

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~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for September 2023 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Condor Islander ~ alongside at Poole - August 2022  

Condor’s latest vessel was built at the Volharding Shipyards in Netherlands as MV Dueodde. Her sister ship, MV Hammerodde (now Stena Vinga), was built at the same yard and the pair entered service with Bornholmertrafikken in 2005 operating routes linking Bornholm with the Danish mainland. In 2010 Dueodde was sold for service in New Zealand and renamed MV Straitsman where she remained until this year when the ship was purchased for the Condor Ferries fleet following investment and loan support by States of Guernsey intended to increase the resilience of the Island's lifeline sea links with the UK, France and Jersey. Two super images of the renamed Condor Islander by regular ~Ships~Dorset~ contributor Darryl Morrell allow us to get a close-up view of the new arrival. The first photo shows Condor Islander during her berthing trials on 4th August and the second image shows her shifting lay-by berths within Port of Poole on 15th August. 

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month September 2023 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Condor Islander ~ manoeuvring at Poole - August 2022  

On her return to the Northern Hemisphere - and after several weeks dry docking & refitting at the El Astillero shipyard in the north of Spain - Condor Islander arrived in the Channel Islands for berthing trials at the end of July. Then followed berthing trials in St. Malo, Portsmouth and Poole. After most of August laid-up in Poole Condor Islander sailed round to Southampton onto the Empress Dock linkspan for a couple of days. Passenger facilities continue to be refurbished before the new ship enters Condor service in October.

Key Dimensions of Condor Islander  … Gross Tonnage = 13,900 … Length = 125m … Beam = 24m … Draft = 6m  … Total Installed Power = 9MW from 2x MaK diesel engines  … Service speed = 19 knots … Capacity for 400 passengers and 1,250 lane metres of vehicle traffic. 

To view previous "Images of the Month" click our Image Archive link ...