Clipper passengers ‘stuck on board in harbour for almost an hour’
Tuesday 3rd November 2009, 2:29PM GMT.
Commodore Clipper (Picture by Tony Rive).
FOOT passengers on the Condor Clipper were made to wait almost an hour before disembarking in St Peter Port, it was claimed yesterday.
When the company’s fast ferry was cancelled due to strong winds on Sunday evening, the Clipper was drafted in as a replacement.
It left Jersey at 9pm and arrived in St Peter Port just after 11.15pm, but it was not until after midnight that foot passengers began to emerge through the arrivals hall.
The 52 individuals involved were told to wait on the vehicle deck before being transferred in groups by minibus to the terminal.
‘It was absolutely ridiculous. There was no-one to tell us what to do,’ said one irate passenger. ‘When [the bus] turned up, there was a free-for-all to get on. A young woman with a baby wasn’t even asked to go on first and she didn’t even get on until the minibus returned for the third time.’
A Condor spokesman said that because the Clipper had docked at berth one, it was outside the secure zone used by the fast ferry. It had therefore been necessary to transfer the unusually high number of foot passengers on the service by minibus.
He said the ferry docked at 11.30pm and all those onboard had disembarked by midnight – but passengers on the service disagreed and some said they were still waiting to be transported to the terminal after that time.
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Stop moaning and give Condor a break. At least they got the passengers there and OK there MAY have been a SLIGHT delay in getting the passengers off but the delay would have been far greater if Condor had decided not to use the traditional ferry and leave the passengers stranded over night.
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I agree John. We use the Clipper in preference to the fast ferry. It is a freight boat with passenger facilities. You expect to have to wait to get off the boat as part of the freight deck needs to be cleared before disembarkation. It was a long day for them and they would have been tired but at least they arrived here. It can be frustrating – I have sat in Portsmouth for half an hour waiting to get off – that was due to a heavy load of Jersey Royals! but no need to complain. You are advised of any delays.
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The passengers that thought of themselves rather than the young lady and her baby should be thoroughly ashamed of their actions.
The staff should have guidelines for this kind of thing in the future. The youngsters and the elderly first for the next time it happens!
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