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Sark Shipping's newest passenger vessel has arrived in Guernsey, following the departure of the Bon Marin for Scandinavian waters last month.
The Corsaire Des Iles II has arrived in the Bailiwick but is not expected to enter service until the New Year.
"There are certain modifications that we want to make, and there are certain modifications that we need to make to bring it up to UK specifications," said Director of Sark Shipping Yan Milner.
"It will also need to be re-registered, and it needs a passenger certificate before it can enter service."
Over the next few weeks, the Corsaire will take part in berthing trials in both Guernsey and Sark, to see how it handles various tidal and weather conditions.
"On paper, it can do all of these things, but paper can be very different to reality," said Mr Milner. He will also be sending the ship on trial sailings between the islands in various conditions so that future timetables can include accurate sailing times as opposed to rough estimates.
Pictured: Sark Shipping's new Corsaire Des Iles II replaces the Bon Marin.
If all the preliminary work goes smoothly, the Corsaire is expected to enter service in February 2021.
"If next year is going to be Covid, Covid, Covid, we won't really need the capacity until May, so there's no great rush."
The Sark Venture, which has been dry-docked in St Sampson's harbour for most of this year, rejoined the Belle in active service last week, following an engine replacement and successful inspection.
With the acquisition of the Corsaire, plans to sell the Belle are still underway - but the market for passenger vessels is still uncertain, according to Mr Milner.
"At one time, we had two interested parties for the Belle, but they're both reliant on tourist trade," he said. "The buyer with first right of refusal has boxed it out, because he doesn't know what the future will bring.
"So the Belle is still for sale, but the market's not currently there for it."
Pictured top: Image courtesy of Tony Rive
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