The Condor Liberation has been detained in Poole after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency found 'substantial deficiences'.

The MCA and Affairs Maritimes conducted a routine inspection yesterday while engineers were working on faults.

As a result they issued a detention order, which prevents the ship from sailing until the repairs have been completed and approved.

In a statement, Condor Ferries said: "Condor's engineers have been working on non-sailing days to rectify the faults on Condor Liberation which have affected recent sailings.

"This includes work on the propulsion and steering systems.

"The MCA and Affairs Maritimes conducted a joint, routine inspection on March 15 whilst this repair work was underway and as a result have issued a detention order.

"Until the issues identified are resolved and the repairs are complete the ship is unable to sail."

In an update at 2pm, the company added: "Yesterday’s routine annual inspection of Condor Liberation by the MCA and Affaires Maritimes coincided with planned repair and maintenance to the propulsion and steering systems on a non-sailing day.

"Consequently, the MCA found that until these systems were back in working order, the ship would be subject to a Detention Order.

"As is usual, a number of other matters were identified during the inspection, all of which will also be rectified before the ship returns to service.

"Once the repairs are complete, as a result of the Order, the ship will undergo re-inspection by the MCA (and all our port states), our classification body (DNV-GL) and our flag state (the Bahamas).

"Regrettably, the need for re-inspection following the successful completion of the repairs and maintenance means that our operating schedule will be disrupted for at least part of this weekend.

"Liberation is expected to return to service in a matter of days; the exact return to service date is expected to be confirmed tomorrow.

"We have enacted the contingency as published on our website which says that, when one high speed ferry is in dry dock and the other is unexpectedly out of service, we will:

Reschedule our conventional ferries to provide alternative sailings

Bring in a charter ship to support freight services

Reschedule additional sailings of Liberation once she is back in service

"We are today cancelling Liberation’s sailing from Jersey to St Malo for Thursday 17 March. This is the only service she was scheduled to operate tomorrow.

"We will provide a further update for weekend travel no later than 12 noon on Thursday 17 March."

In a statement the MCA said: "Following a joint EU inspection by the Southampton Marine Office and French Affaires Maritime Port State control colleagues, the Condor Liberation has been detained after substantial deficiencies were observed by MCA inspectors.’

"Following formal detention, the flag state and their recognised organisation are responsible for primary oversight and rectification of deficiencies.

"Once they are content, they will invite the Port State (MCA) to reattend to verify the same."

The Dorset Echo understands that a detention order is made by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency when a ship has a substantial issue, which the MCA deems as making the vessel unsafe or potentially dangerous for passengers to travel on it. This could include issues with the engine or the hull.

Condor Liberation carries a flag of convenience for the Bahamas, which is a business practice of registering a merchant ship in a sovereign state different from the ship’s owners.

This means that the Bahamian government are responsible for overseeing the repair work carried out on the ship, before it can be checked over by the MCA.

The Liberation has been struggling with steering difficulties since February. It was out of action for three days at the end of February.

At that time the company said: "Following the technical problems which affected the Condor Liberation... our engineers sourced the parts needed to make a permanent repair to the steering modules."

Poole Harbour Commissioners have refused to comment, passing all inquires to Condor Ferries.

The ferry, which was built in 2010, was put into dry dock from January to mid-February after it was damaged. It was also out of service for three days at the end of February for work to repair the steering.