FAMILIES planning to travel by sea and road to UK universities ahead of the start of the new academic year have been hit by ferry cancellations.
Condor Ferries has expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by cancelled services, which it said had resulted from problems with a chartered vessel due to replace ferries that were booked for maintenance.
One mother with a student heading to university said their outward crossing to the south coast of England had been cancelled, leaving them little choice but to accept a replacement booking two days earlier.
She said: ‘Because we have to go early I am likely to lose pay due to taking unauthorised holiday, while my husband now can’t make the trip at all.
‘We’ve also been saddled with the cost of an extra two nights’ accommodation and intend to seek compensation from Condor.’
A Condor Ferries spokesperson said: ‘The alterations are due to a late issue with the availability of a chartered vessel, which has impacted on our planned fleet maintenance programme.
‘Commodore Clipper is being withdrawn from service earlier than originally scheduled, so the MV Arrow will cover her freight sailings alongside Commodore Goodwill.’
A new Liberation sailing to Guernsey and Jersey will operate on Tuesday 12 September and a Poole-Guernsey-Poole service has also been scheduled on Thursday 14 September to meet demand.
The spokesperson concluded: ‘Most passengers have been moved within 24 hours of their original departure time.
‘We regret the inconvenience caused to travellers and freight clients.’
