WORK is under way in Poole on the fit-out of the port’s new £50m passenger boat.

Condor 102, the latest addition to the Condor Ferries fleet, drew crowds as it arrived in the UK on Boxing Day after a 10,500-nautical mile journey from the Philippines.

It will be customised in Poole, where interior refurbishment specialist Trimline will fit it out.

Trimline’s work will include installing a duty free shop, children’s play area, information desk and catering outlets.

It will also ‘finalise’ new seating lounges, including two upgrade areas.

The duty free shop alone will use 1,000 square metres of lightweight honeycomb board, 72 square metres of solid surface board, 1,656 pieces of stainless steel and 180 metres of strip lighting.

The Condor 102 will take over all journeys from Poole to the Channel Islands in March. The company says it will offer improved reliability, increased capacity and better comfort with smoother journeys. Condor says it will secure the future of high-speed ferry travel to the Jersey and Guernsey.

Alicia Andrews, the company’s executive director commercial, said: “We’re very excited the fit-out process of Condor 102 is underway. It has been a long journey to get her here, so we’re delighted that her period of customisation has already begun and she is quickly taking shape. She added: “We’ve worked very hard to ensure Condor 102’s design and fit-out will offer our passengers with the greatest level of comfort and best onboard experience.

“Trimline has a big job ahead of them over the next few weeks, but with their expert team on hand, we’re confident she will be looking fantastic inside and out ahead of her first sailing to the Channel Islands at the end of March.”

Andrew Richards, CEO of Southampton-based Trimline, added: “We are very excited to start the fit-out on Condor’s prestigious new vessel.

“After all the detailed planning that has been involved, our team is now on-board and we are looking forward to completing the fit-out on time and to budget.”

Condor has operated services from Poole to the Channel Islands since 1987.