{{Short description|Roll-on/roll-off ferry built in 2005}} {{other ships|MV Islander (1950)|MV Straitsman}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox ship | infobox_caption = | display_title = |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = MV Islander entering in Saint-Malo.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = ''Islander'' in [[Saint-Malo]] in March 2025 }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | name = *2005-2010: ''Dueodde'' *2010-2023: ''Straitsman'' *2023-2025: ''Condor Islander'' *2025-present: ''Islander'' | owner = *2005-2010: [[Bornholmstrafikken]] *2010-2023: [[StraitNZ]] *2023-2025: [[Condor Ferries]] and the [[States of Guernsey]] *2025-present: the States of Guernsey | operator = *2005-2010: [[Bornholmstrafikken]] *2010-2023: [[StraitNZ]] *2023-2025: [[Condor Ferries]] *2025-present: [[Brittany Ferries]] | registry = [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]], {{flag|Bahamas|civil}} | route = * [[Portsmouth Harbour|Portsmouth]]⇄[[Guernsey]] * [[Portsmouth Harbour|Portsmouth]]–[[Guernsey]]–[[Saint-Malo]] | builder = Volharding Shipyards, Netherlands | yard_number = 703 | laid_down = | launched = | completed = | christened = | acquired = | maiden_voyage = | in_service = 2005 | out_of_service = | identification = *{{IMO Number|9323704}} *{{MMSI Number|311001287}} *[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: ZMSM | fate = | status = Active | notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = | type = [[Roll-on/roll-off|ROPAX]] ferry | tonnage = {{GT|13,906}} | displacement = | length = {{convert|124.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|23.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | height = | draft = {{convert|5.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | depth = | hold_depth = | decks = 10 | ramps = | power = *2 × [[Maschinenbau Kiel|MaK]] 9M32 diesel engines *4,320 kW each at 600 rpm | propulsion = | speed = {{convert|18.8|kn|lk=in}} | range = | boats = | capacity = *400 passengers *{{convert|1248|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} lane for vehicles | crew = | notes = }} }}
The '''''Islander''''' is a [[roll-on/roll-off]] [[ferry]] owned by the [[States of Guernsey]] and operated by [[Brittany Ferries]] on services connecting [[Guernsey]] in the [[Channel Islands]] to [[Portsmouth Harbour|Portsmouth]], [[England]] and [[Saint-Malo]], [[France]]. Built in 2005 as '''''Dueodde''''' for [[Bornholmstrafikken]], she has since seen service with [[StraitNZ]] as '''''Straitsman''''' across the [[Cook Strait]] between 2010 and 2023, before being sold to [[Condor Ferries]] as '''''Condor Islander.''''' The vessel was renamed ''Islander'' in 2025, following the company's majority takeover by Brittany Ferries.
==History== ''Islander'' was built in the style of [[Van der Giessen de Noord]]'s vessels, alongside her sister ship ''[[Stena Vinga|Hammerodde]]''.
===Bornholmstrafikken=== ''Islander'' entered service with [[Bornholmstrafikken]] in 2005 as ''Dueodde''. Alongside ''Hammerodde'', she operated routes linking [[Bornholm]] with Denmark.<ref name=Bluebridge>[https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022205/https://www.bluebridge.co.nz/the-trip/our-ships/#jumpto-the-straitsman The Straitsman] [[Bluebridge]]</ref><ref name=ShipsMonthlyJuly2022>Crossing the Cook Strait ''[[Ships Monthly]]'' July 2022 page 66</ref>
===StraitNZ=== In 2010, the vessel was sold to [[StraitNZ]] and was renamed ''Straitsman'' in recognition of [[MV Straitsman (1972)|StraitNZ's first vessel]], which was in service for 11 years from when the company first launched in 1992.<ref name=Bluebridge/><ref name=ShipsMonthlyJuly2022/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1012/S00061/new-cook-strait-ferry-showered-with-welcome.htm | title=New Cook Strait Ferry Showered with Welcome|website=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]]}}</ref>
===Condor Ferries=== [[File:Condor Islander in Poole.jpg|thumb|''Condor Islander'' in [[Poole Harbour]] in 2023]] In March 2023, it was sold to [[Condor Ferries]] to operate services between [[Portsmouth Harbour|Portsmouth]] and the [[Channel Islands]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Condor Ferries secures new passenger and freight vessel for Portsmouth-Channel Islands routes |date= 8 March 2023 |url= https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/people/condor-ferries-secures-new-passenger-and-freight-vessel-for-portsmouth-channel-islands-routes-4055879 |accessdate=8 March 2023}}</ref><ref>Fierce competition for New Zealand vessel ''Ships Monthly'' May 2023 page 10</ref> It was renamed ''Condor Islander''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 June 2023 |title=Condor reveals name of new Channel Islands vessel |url=https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2023-03-17/condor-reveal-name-of-new-channel-islands-vessel |work=[[ITV News]]}}</ref>
The ferry was purchased in a [[joint venture]] between Condor and the [[States of Guernsey]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Guernsey States and Condor to split cost of new ferry |date= 5 April 2023 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-65187661|website=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=27 March 2025}}</ref>
In July 2023, the vessel arrived in the Channel Islands after several weeks in a dry dock in [[El Astillero]], Spain. Following refurbishment, she entered service in November 2023.<ref>Condor Ferries route debut ''Ships Monthly'' February 2024 page 11</ref>
===Brittany Ferries=== [[File:MV Islander departing Saint-Malo.jpg|thumb|''Islander'' departing [[Saint-Malo]] in 2025]] Following Condor's majority take-over by Brittany Ferries in 2024 and a new 15-year contract agreement with Guernsey, the Condor prefix was dropped from ''Islander's'' name, and the vessel was rebranded into a Brittany Ferries livery in [[Gdańsk]], Poland. She remains under the ownership of the States of Guernsey and is now leased to Brittany Ferries<ref>{{cite web |title=Islander gets a new look with Brittany Ferries' livery |date= 21 March 2025|url= https://guernseypress.com/news/2025/03/21/islander-gets-a-new-look-with-brittany-ferries-livery/|website=[[Guernsey Press]]|accessdate=22 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2025-03-29 |title=CEO of new ferry operator admits having mixed feelings |url=https://guernseypress.com/news/2025/03/29/ceo-of-new-ferry-operator-admits-having-mixed-feelings |work=Guernsey Press|access-date=2026-03-08}}</ref>
==Incidents== ===StraitNZ=== *In July 2016, a truck and B-train trailer unit aboard the ''Straitsman'' snapped its lashings and fell overboard off the coast of [[Island Bay, New Zealand|Island Bay]].<ref>{{cite news |first1= Marty |last1= Sharpe |first2= Tommy |last2= Livingston |date= 18 July 2016 |title= Trailer unit goes overboard after breaking free on Bluebridge Straitsman ferry |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/82204547/truck-goes-overboard-after-breaking-free-on-the-straitsman-ferry |publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|accessdate= 2 November 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171107040649/http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/82204547/truck-goes-overboard-after-breaking-free-on-the-straitsman-ferry |archive-date= 7 November 2017 |url-status= live |df= dmy-all }}</ref> *On 24 February 2023, a crewmember was hit by a truck reversing on board at Wellington, causing delays. The crewmember suffered bruising and a broken wrist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Staff member breaks wrist in truck incident on Bluebridge ferry |date=24 February 2023 |url=https://stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/131323812 |accessdate=4 April 2023}}</ref>
===Condor Ferries=== * Upon introduction to the Condor fleet, the first sailing for ''Condor Islander'' was scheduled to take place in November 2023 however, it was brought forward to October 2023 with freight services starting on the 8th and both passenger and freight services on the 15th. It was then pushed back again to 20 October 2023 because of the late installation of vital equipment.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-67020438| title=Condor Islander start date delayed| work=BBC News|date=6 October 2023}}</ref> *Due to the conditions of [[Storm Babet]], ''Condor Islander's'' first sailing with passengers on 20 October 2023 was cancelled and pushed back to the 22rd of the same month. *On 23 October 2023, the inter-island service from [[Guernsey]] to [[Jersey]] was cancelled due to technical problems. The sailing onto Portsmouth departed from Guernsey instead, much earlier than anticipated<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crg1pzl71peo| title=First inter-island ferry service cancelled|website=BBC News|date=23 October 2023}}</ref> *On 25 October 2023, it was discovered that there were faults with the front bow thrusters of the ship and that they would need repairing. It was announced that the vessel would be pulled out of service until 2 November of the same year and all scheduled sailings were cancelled.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://gsy.bailiwickexpress.com/gsy/news/condor-islander-temporarily-withdrawn-service-due-tech-issue/| title=Condor Islander temporarily withdrawn from service due to tech issue|date=25 October 2023}}</ref> *On 3 July 2024, ''Condor Islander'' came into contact with one of the [[Saint Helier Harbour]] walls during strong winds, upon arrival in Jersey. The vessel remained in the harbour overnight before continuing its sailing onto Guernsey. There was recorded damage to both the ''Condor Islander'' and the east berth of the harbour.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2024-07-04/more-than-100-passengers-stuck-overnight-after-ferry-hits-harbour-wall| title=More than 100 Condor Ferries passengers stuck in Jersey overnight after vessel hits harbour wall|website=ITV News|date=4 July 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline|IMO 9323704}}
{{New Zealand inter-island ferries|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Islander}} [[Category:Cook Strait ferries]] [[Category:Ferries of France]] [[Category:Ferries of Guernsey]] [[Category:Ferries of Jersey]] [[Category:Ferries of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Ships built in the Netherlands]] [[Category:2005 ships]]