~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for January & February 2026 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Commodore Clipper ~ at Poole - December 2025
A year of changes in 2025 saw the Condor Ferries fleet subsumed by Brittany Ferries. Islander and Voyager lost their Condor prefix, Jersey & Guernsey services divorced and Commodore Clipper was used to supplement Brittany Ferries’ Le Havre and Irish services. The August 2025 launch of the Bayonne–Cherbourg intermodal rail freight link enabled unaccompanied trailers to be moved directly to Cherbourg for onward shipment by ferry, positioning Poole as Brittany Ferries’ UK hub for this traffic. MN Pelican left the fleet marking the close of the Poole to Bilbao freight service and Brittany Ferries promoted the reinstatement of a daily passenger and freight winter service between Poole and Cherbourg. Barfleur was required for refit and fleet relief duties from December 2025 to March 2026 so as a year of changes drew to a close Commodore Clipper took up the Poole-Cherbourg service from mid-December 2025 until Barfleur’s scheduled return at the end of March 2026. Regular ~Ships~Dorset~ contributor Kev Mitchell was on hand, when she arrived in port to conduct berthing trials and lay-over awaiting service. He captured these two great images alongside South Quay, Poole.
~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for January & February 2026 ~ 2of2 ~ Commodore Clipper ~ at Poole - December 2025
Commodore Clipper is one of a series of “near-sisters” that includes Isle of Man Steam Packet’s Ben-My-Chree, Stena Vinga currently used on the Jersey service by DFDS and fleet-mate Islander (formerly Condor Islander). Built at the Netherlands shipyard of Van den Giessen de Noord for Commodore Shipping in 1999, the ferry’s facilities include bar, brasserie, 40 four-berth cabins, a 40 seat “Club Class” lounge plus 70 reserved seats.
Key Dimensions for Commodore Clipper … Gross Tonnage = 14,000 … Length = 129m … Beam = 23m … usual capacity 100 cars & 300 pax (certificated to 500) … 1,265 lane metres (could take 280 cars) … Speed = 18 knots … in service since 1999
