Three crew members injured and 41 cars damaged in rough seas
Three people were injured and 41 cars were damaged on board the "Condor Vitesse" while it sailed from Weymouth to the Channel Islands in the afternoon of Aug 10, 2014, as strong winds and rain from ex-hurricane Bertha swept through the English Channel.
Passengers on board were left shaken following the incident, while the injuries suffered by the three crew members were only thought to be minor, with the owners of the cars that were damaged now working with the ferry company to get them repaired. Captain Fran Collins, ports and guest services director of Condor Ferries, said the weather conditions were within the set safety limits.
The vessel was prepared for sea in accordance with all company procedures for heavy weather, however, as the vessel approached the waters around Casquets Lighthouse, a patch of unforeseeable and highly localised high waves developed, aggravated by tidal conditions in the area which cause the vessel to move heavily in the seaway.
The ship’s master immediately reduced the vessel’s speed to minimise this but unfortunately some damage had already occurred. The vessel was scheduled to sail between Weymouth and the Channel Islands as usual the following afternoon.
Three people were injured and 41 cars were damaged on board the "Condor Vitesse" while it sailed from Weymouth to the Channel Islands in the afternoon of Aug 10, 2014, as strong winds and rain from ex-hurricane Bertha swept through the English Channel.
Passengers on board were left shaken following the incident, while the injuries suffered by the three crew members were only thought to be minor, with the owners of the cars that were damaged now working with the ferry company to get them repaired. Captain Fran Collins, ports and guest services director of Condor Ferries, said the weather conditions were within the set safety limits.
The vessel was prepared for sea in accordance with all company procedures for heavy weather, however, as the vessel approached the waters around Casquets Lighthouse, a patch of unforeseeable and highly localised high waves developed, aggravated by tidal conditions in the area which cause the vessel to move heavily in the seaway.
The ship’s master immediately reduced the vessel’s speed to minimise this but unfortunately some damage had already occurred. The vessel was scheduled to sail between Weymouth and the Channel Islands as usual the following afternoon.