After the HD1 was in collision with a Condor ferry for the second time, the boss of Condor Ferries, Rob Provan took a swipe at the lower cost rival, HD Ferries, and claimed their vessel was not suitable for current operations, he even went as far as to say the vessel's builders Incat of Australia had said this.

Mr Provan, speaking to local paper Guernsey Press & Star said: "This vessel, HD1, was never designed for open sea operation, as confirmed by both the shipbuilder and the handling difficulties now evident."

He then turned his attention to the lower fares of HD Ferries and said, "A professed 'low-cost. operation cannot be allowed to deliver 'low-safety' services."

He claimed that although the HD1 had suffered 'tearing holes' his own 'much stronger' vessel was nearly put 'out of commission'.

Now HD Ferries CEO, Chris Howe-Davies, has responded with an attack on Condor. He starts his statement saying he does not like to throw stones as they often 'come back as rocks' and then proceeded to lob a few boulders at Mr Provan and Condor.

He listed the calamaties that Condor ferries had been involved with, including one of their vessels slicing another boat in half, and said it was interesting that Condor had forgotten about these incidents.

He also said Incat had 'strongly denied' that HD1 was not suitable for the route.

"We find it hard to believe that respected authorities such as Jersey Harbours, the MCA, Bahamas Flag Authority and DNV would allow an unsafe vessel to operate on the route. It is more likely that the huge potential for hd1 on the route, and Condor Ferries inability to compete with it, has caused considerable concern to Mr Provan and fuelled his comments." he said.

He then went on to apologise to customers for what had happened and said they had received 'overwhelming amount of support' from the people of Guernsey and Jersey.