- 26 April 2021, Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications and Estonia’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure signed a MoU on cooperation between the two countries in the transport sector.
- The urpose of the MoU is cooperation in the transport sector and exchange of information between the countries in order to promote large-scale transport projects, such as the Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel, Rail Baltica, Trans-European Transport Networks, and North Sea-Baltic Sea core network corridor.
- The MoU provides an improved environment for applying EU funding for the projects.
- Condor Ferries said it is planning to use Brittany Ferries’ fast catamaran NORMANDIE EXPRESS this summer.
- Brittany Ferries is a minority shareholder of Condor Ferries and owns the fast craft.
- The vessel would be renamed CONDOR VOYAGER.
- Synergy: Condor Ferries will operate a number of peak summer sailings for Brittany Ferries.
Condor Ferries has maintained essential freight links only since March, but has not run any fast ferry passenger services.
Currently, anyone arriving in the Channel Islands has to self-isolate for 14 days with penalties for those caught breaching the law.
Condor is working with the authorities to establish a date to start services.
Condor Ferries CEO Welcomes the Expertise of the New Owners
See also our extra news flash from 14 November 2019.
Paul Luxon, Condor Ferries’ CEO, said in a statement that he is delighted with the agreement between the current shareholder, Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, to sell its 100% interest in Condor Ferries to a consortium of Columbia Threadneedle Investments, the majority shareholder, and Brittany Ferries.
“The new shareholders wholeheartedly share our vision and strategy for maintaining and developing essential Channel Islands’ lifeline ferry services across the freight supply chain, Islander travel and tourism sectors. Having met with senior executives of CTI and BF on several occasions, the company welcomes such experience and expertise from the new shareholders and having introduced them to key stakeholders including politicians and senior civil servants, discussions on fleet replacement and future investment will continue.”
He added that Condor Ferries’ management and staff will continue to deliver the five-year business plan that is underway. “We will continue to focus on providing efficient and effective sea connectivity to support the Channel Islands’ economies”.

Brittany Ferries and Columbia Threadneedle Investments reach agreement to acquire Condor Ferries from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets
Brittany Ferries, in consortium with the Columbia Threadneedle European Sustainable Infrastructure Fund (ESIF), has reached an agreement to acquire 100 percent of Condor Ferries from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA).
Contracts have been signed and the deal is expected to be executed following scrutiny by relevant regulatory authorities. Brittany Ferries will hold a minority stake.
Condor Ferries is an operator of lifeline freight and passenger ferry services. Each year, Condor Ferries carries approximately 1 million passengers, 200,000 passenger vehicles, and over 900,000 freight lane meters between Guernsey, Jersey, the United Kingdom, and the Port of St. Malo in France.
Brittany Ferries began operations in 1973. Today its fleet includes twelve ships connecting France, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain. It operates from three ports in the UK, Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth and carries around 2.5 million passengers every year, as well as 210,000 freight units.
ESIF is a new open-ended, evergreen fund that invests in European mid-market equity assets, managed by leading global asset management group Columbia Threadneedle Investments.
Brittany Ferries Might Be Interested in Condor Ferries
An internal letter from Brittany Ferries informed its employees that the company might be interested in taking over Condor Ferries, together with a co-investor.
Brittany Ferries would not like to see Condor being taken over by a competitor.
The BF management said it was too early to comment.
Condor Ferries is currently owned by The Australian Macquarie Fund.
Condor Ferries is in its 71st year of operations but is already planning its centenary in 2047. CEO Paul Luxon tells Justin Merrigan about the forward-thinking company.
Following a comprehensive dive inspection overnight in Poole damage was detected in the three jet propulsion buckets of catamaran CONDOR LIBERATION. As a result of these technical issues, Condor Ferries cancelled the sailings between Poole and the Channel Islands until November 6. Condor is implementing a revised schedule in line with published contingency plans to maintain passenger and freight services across its network of routes. Instead CONDOR RAPIDE will operate a revised schedule.

Photo: CONDOR LIBERATION © Condor Ferries