Ashore at last
Thursday 17th June 2010, 2:30PM BST.
All calm. School photographer Nick Maestrani took this picture of passengers calmly sitting in life jackets in the bar awaiting instructions from the crew.
FIREFIGHTERS battled thick smoke for more than 14 hours in at times cramped conditions yesterday to put out the fire on the vehicle deck of the Commodore Clipper.
The extent of the damage is unknown and Condor managing director Simon Edsall had no idea yesterday whether the Clipper will be out of action for days, weeks, or longer.
The last of four smouldering trailers that had been carrying Jersey Royal potatoes was removed as the captain briefed the 62 passengers on board just after 8.15pm.
The Clipper had left Guernsey for Portsmouth via Jersey at 5.30pm on Tuesday. The emergency announcement was made shortly after 3am yesterday.
Captain Roger Thomson told the meeting of relieved travellers: ‘That was the last of the four trailers that have been on fire. We’re fairly confident that’s the last that’s been causing problems.’
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Better find a new ship quick b4 island runs out of food!!
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im just wondering why did condor not drop the passengers ashore by life boats rather then keeping them on board for 12 hours longer would have made more sense to me ,and for the vessel listing due to the water used to put out the fire im sure the Clipper must be fitted with bilge pumps just a couple of daft questions but would interested in the answers.
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surely we can just buy a ship!!!!!!!
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tomb
Toxic & noxious hazardous waste.
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Did any of the pax hav animals in cars on car deck?
If so were they ok??
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thank you Paul that makes sense to the pumping bit but kind of gives more reason to passengers off if toxic smoke around (presuming the crew have brething apperatus to deal with the situation ) but end of the every one is safe and sound the vehicles can be repaired or replaced.
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i was on the ferry. would like to know why we wernt taken off when boat docked at portsmouth
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It did seem so strange to me that in the event of emergency the passengers’ departing the ship was DELAYED! Surely, the aim is to get them off more quickly in such situations?
I’m sure there is a reason for it, someone please enlighten us!
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All incidents are best contained as tightly as possible until one can be as sure as possible about the cause & the implications of the event.
What if it was a potential terrorism attack using biological weapons?
All options need to be considered before any potential suspects are allowed to leave the scene.
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Does Mr Trott not have a spare boat to use?!
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Yeah, we’re right up there on the Al Qaeda short list – London, New York, Washington, small ferry from Guernsey.
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Donkey’s Wotsits
You comment may be tongue in cheek BUT Portsouth is a naval base and it is possible and I say only possible that it could have been an attack.
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I was told that the passengers have to disembark through the car deck on the Commodore Clipper/ Goodwill thus making it totally unsafe to disembark at the time of the fire and beyond, is this true I have never been on these ships? In these days of health and safety is seems rather unsatisfactory.
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Yes I’ve been on before it’s true.
The ship has a mini van that picks up the foot passengers at the terminal then drives them on board via the lower car deck.
I think the ship is too large for there to be a walkway. At least when docking in Gsy and Jsy. I also don’t think these were originally designed for passengers so perhaps that’s why there isn’t the facility.
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