Photo: Gordon James
The 86m fast catamaran ferry, Condor Vitesse, collided with a fishing vessel this morning, seriously injuring a French fisherman.
UPDATE: The fisherman injured in the crash subsequently died.
French fisherman seriously injured in ferry crash
The Condor Vitesse, travelling between St Malo in France and St Helier, Jersey, collided with the boat at about 0750 BST on Monday. There were three French nationals on the fishing boat. Two of them were taken to the Vitesse. It is thought the fisherman is in a serious condition.
The wreckage is currently being recovered by Jersey Coastguard.
The Condor Vitesse sustained some damage to the starboard bow but was able to get back to port under its own power and without assistance.
Thanks to Alaric Bond for passing the news along.
WIKIPEDIA UPDATE : At approximately 0645 UTC on 28 March 2011 the Condor Vitesse was in collision with a Granville fishing boat, the 9.3m “Les Marquises”, in the vicinity of the Minquiers reef south of Jersey while en route from St Malo in foggy conditions. Two of the French fishermen were rescued from the water by the ferry’s safety boats. The skipper of Les Marquises, 42-year old Philippe Claude Lesaulnier, was rescued by another fishing boat “Joker” and transferred to Jersey’s lifeboat, but died later the same day in Jersey’s hospital. An inquest in Jersey revealed that Monsieur Lesaulnier died of crush injuries to the upper abdomen, and drowning. He leaves a wife and four children.
An investigation is currently underway. The French investigator, Renauld Gaudeul, procureur de la République de Coutances said that the speed of the ferry would be of key importance to the investigation
Thanks for the update.
As per my knowledge, Condor Vitesse is currently involved in a search and rescue operation in the vicinity of the Minquiers following a possible collision with a fishing vessel.