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| Cars stuck on Condor ferry in Portsmouth after ramp fault | Cars stuck on Condor ferry in Portsmouth after ramp fault |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dozens of vehicles are stuck on a ferry in Portsmouth after a ramp failed, causing a "nightmare" for drivers. | Dozens of vehicles are stuck on a ferry in Portsmouth after a ramp failed, causing a "nightmare" for drivers. |
| Condor Ferries' Commodore Clipper sailed from Jersey and docked in the city at about 07:00 GMT. | Condor Ferries' Commodore Clipper sailed from Jersey and docked in the city at about 07:00 GMT. |
| Many passengers had been moved on to the ferry after the Condor Liberation suffered a technical problem. | Many passengers had been moved on to the ferry after the Condor Liberation suffered a technical problem. |
| Foot passengers have disembarked, but the drivers of 44 vehicles have been told the ramp may not be fixed for several hours. | |
| Passenger Kit Ashton, from Jersey, said: "I was supposed to be on a boat to Poole last night, but that was cancelled because the Liberation broke down. | Passenger Kit Ashton, from Jersey, said: "I was supposed to be on a boat to Poole last night, but that was cancelled because the Liberation broke down. |
| "Now we're stuck on this boat and have been told by the captain not to expect to move until at least 6pm - it's an absolute nightmare. | "Now we're stuck on this boat and have been told by the captain not to expect to move until at least 6pm - it's an absolute nightmare. |
| "We've been told they need to bring in a crane but that may not arrive until 4pm. | "We've been told they need to bring in a crane but that may not arrive until 4pm. |
| "We're allowed to get off as foot passengers but we've been told it may take about an hour to arrange and we'll have to leave our car keys in case they want to move it - most people are sitting tight." | "We're allowed to get off as foot passengers but we've been told it may take about an hour to arrange and we'll have to leave our car keys in case they want to move it - most people are sitting tight." |
| Fran Collins, executive director of operations at Condor Ferries, said: "Condor's onboard engineering teams are working hard to get the ramp fixed as soon as possible. | Fran Collins, executive director of operations at Condor Ferries, said: "Condor's onboard engineering teams are working hard to get the ramp fixed as soon as possible. |
| "However, specialist contractors have been contacted, as the work is complex. | "However, specialist contractors have been contacted, as the work is complex. |
| "All passengers have been offered the opportunity to disembark. However, no vehicles are able to leave the ferry at the moment." | "All passengers have been offered the opportunity to disembark. However, no vehicles are able to leave the ferry at the moment." |
| Condor Liberation ferry services between the Channel Islands and the UK had already been cancelled on Saturday following a technical problem with the vessel. | Condor Liberation ferry services between the Channel Islands and the UK had already been cancelled on Saturday following a technical problem with the vessel. |
| Analysis by Paul Clifton, BBC South's transport correspondent | Analysis by Paul Clifton, BBC South's transport correspondent |
| This is the latest in a string of technical failures to hit Condor Ferries in the past year. | This is the latest in a string of technical failures to hit Condor Ferries in the past year. |
| The fast ferry Liberation has endured breakdowns and incidents and now the normally reliable Commodore Clipper is adding to the company's difficulties. | The fast ferry Liberation has endured breakdowns and incidents and now the normally reliable Commodore Clipper is adding to the company's difficulties. |
| It all means that Condor is hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons more frequently than other ferry operators. | It all means that Condor is hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons more frequently than other ferry operators. |