European Ferries
Encyclopedia
European Ferries Group Plc was a company that operated in passenger and freight ferries, harbour operation and property management in the United Kingdom
and the United States
. It was taken over by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
and renamed P&O European Ferries
in 1987.
In 1957, Monument Securities bought a 51% stake in Townsend Car Ferries Ltd and in 1959 acquired the rest in a full takeover. The same year Monument Securities changed its name to George Nott Industries Ltd.
In 1968 George Nott Industries purchased the Otto Thoresen Shipping Company and its subsidiary Thoresen Car Ferries Ltd. As a result of this acquisition it changed its name to European Ferries Ltd. In 1971 the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company Ltd (Trading as Transport Ferry Service) was acquired from the National Freight Corporation. All three of the companies under European Ferries Ltd used the name Townsend Thoresen to market their ferry services.
In 1973 European Ferries purchased Larne Harbour Ltd and a 50% stake in the former naval dockyard at Harwich. This was followed in 1976 with the acquisition of The Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company.
In 1979 European Ferries Ltd entered the property industry in a joint venture for property development in Denver, it expanded this in Atlanta and in 1980 began buying further land in Houston. It had acquired around 5000 acres (20.2 km²) of land.
In May 1984 European Ferries Ltd transferred its assets to European Ferries Group Plc and in January 1985 European Ferries made a further acquisition, when P&O decided to divest its ferry business and sold its operations between Dover
and Boulogne and Southampton
and Le Havre
. These services were rebranded as Normandy Ferries Ltd.
On 6 March 1987, the Townsend-Thoresen branded car ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsized just outside Zeebrugge's harbour about 25 minutes after departure. A subsequent inquiry determined that the ships bow doors had been left open allowing water to get onto the car deck. 193 people died as a result of the sinking.
Following the sinking, later in 1987, European Ferries Group Plc was acquired by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
and renamed P&O European Ferries
. The Townsend Thoresen branded ships were rebranded with P&O Ferries due to the bad publicity that the disaster had caused for the brand.
Townsend Thoresen was the name used to market the passenger and freight ferry services that were run by the subsidiary companies Townsend Brothers Ferries Ltd, Thoresen Car Ferries Ltd and the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company Ltd.
and Calais
. Their first ship was a converted minesweeper. In 1951 this was replaced with a converted frigate, which was superseded by their first purpose built roll-on/roll-off passenger and vehicle ferry which entered service in 1962.
Celebrating Townsend's private-sector status, in competition with the government-run services of British Railways and SNCF
on the Dover-Calais route the ship was named the Free Enterprise Two subsequent vessels entered service in 1965 and 1966, being named Free Enterprise II and Free Enterprise III respectively beginning a second route from Dover
to Zeebrugge
.
to Cherbourg and Le Havre
. The company was set up as the Otto Thoresen Shipping Company by the Norwegian
Otto Thoresen, a subsidiary Thoresen Car Ferries Ltd was setup in the United Kingdom to act as its agent. The names of their original vessels Viking I and Viking II, and the subsequent Viking III and Viking IV, reflected the company's Scandinavia
n origins.
and Rotterdam
was begun using converted tank carriers. In 1964 Atlantic began a freight service between Felixstowe
and Rotterdam
, the following year adding a second service running to Antwerp. As a result of the expansion at Felixstowe, the Tilbury services were ended in 1968.
Following the acquisition by European Ferries in 1971, Atlantic began a ferry service between Cairnryan
and Larne
to make use of the Port of Larne which European Ferries had purchased in 1973. After their acquisition their ships carried Townsend Thoresen livery. Their ships' names carried the suffix "ferry", as in Europic Ferry, Doric Ferry, Baltic Ferry and Nordic Ferry.
during the history of the company. Former vessels from Townsend Brothers Ferries remained in their original livery, a greenish blue with white combination, while former vessels from Thoresen Car Ferries remained in their original brownish orange with white livery. From 1974 to 1976 the company used a greenish blue in combination with white for almost its entire fleet. The brownish orange livery was introduced in 1976 for the entire fleet and is probably the most recognized livery.
Strait of Dover
(former Townsend routes)
Western English Channel
(former Thoresen routes)
Southern North Sea
Irish Sea
In December 1985 Townsend Thoresen also ordered two new 20,000 ton vessels at a cost of £98 million which entered service in 1987 as the Pride of Dover
and Pride of Calais
, these arrived after the P&O takeover.
project in order to increase their capacity. The 'Free Enterprise VI' and the 'Free Enterprise VII' were the ships of the Dover - Zeebrugge route which were rebuilt. The 'Viking Venturer' and the 'Viking Valiant' were the ships of the Portsmouth - Le Havre route which were rebuilt.
, Cairnryan
and Felixstowe
. All three were operated by European Ferries until they were acquired by P&O.
Under the management of European Ferries, Felixstowe increased its container handling capacity to approximately 500,000 per annum and in 1980 a total of 252,802 containers were handled, making it the United Kingdoms largest container port. In 1984, Felixstowe became the first UK seaport to introduce computerised Custom's clearance.
The management of the port was continued by P&O upon the acquisition of European Ferries in 1987.
In May 1985, European Ferries transferred the majority of its UK property interests to Stockley in exchange for a 44% share and as a result of Stockley's acquisition of 26.5% Stock Conversion this stake was reduced to 34.7%. European Ferries maintained a portfolio of around 15 to 20 properties in the UK and was also involved in a 1100 acres (4.5 km²) leisure development in Southern Spain
and other properties in Hamburg
and Frankfurt
by the Ministry of Defence
to assist with the Falklands Campaign
. The three vessels were; Europic Ferry, Nordic Ferry and Baltic Ferry
Following the Falklands War a number of lessons had been learnt by the British Government, in a bid to test their understanding of these lessons, the Ministry of Defence scheduled a military exercise named Exercise Purple Warrior in Scotland in November 1987. A number of vessels were chartered by the MoD, including European Ferries Viking Viscount. Prior to leaving for this charter the Viking Viscount was fitted with an extra ramp to enable unloading of vehicles to mexifloats. A number of military vehicles were embarked in Plymouth prior to the exercise beginning.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was taken over by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
and renamed P&O European Ferries
P&O Ferries
P&O Ferries is the current name for the amalgamation of a range of ferry services that operated from the United Kingdom to Ireland and Continental Europe...
in 1987.
History
The European Ferries Group was incorporated in 1935 as Monument Securities Ltd, becoming a Public limited company in 1949.In 1957, Monument Securities bought a 51% stake in Townsend Car Ferries Ltd and in 1959 acquired the rest in a full takeover. The same year Monument Securities changed its name to George Nott Industries Ltd.
In 1968 George Nott Industries purchased the Otto Thoresen Shipping Company and its subsidiary Thoresen Car Ferries Ltd. As a result of this acquisition it changed its name to European Ferries Ltd. In 1971 the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company Ltd (Trading as Transport Ferry Service) was acquired from the National Freight Corporation. All three of the companies under European Ferries Ltd used the name Townsend Thoresen to market their ferry services.
In 1973 European Ferries purchased Larne Harbour Ltd and a 50% stake in the former naval dockyard at Harwich. This was followed in 1976 with the acquisition of The Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company.
In 1979 European Ferries Ltd entered the property industry in a joint venture for property development in Denver, it expanded this in Atlanta and in 1980 began buying further land in Houston. It had acquired around 5000 acres (20.2 km²) of land.
In May 1984 European Ferries Ltd transferred its assets to European Ferries Group Plc and in January 1985 European Ferries made a further acquisition, when P&O decided to divest its ferry business and sold its operations between Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
and Boulogne and Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
. These services were rebranded as Normandy Ferries Ltd.
On 6 March 1987, the Townsend-Thoresen branded car ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsized just outside Zeebrugge's harbour about 25 minutes after departure. A subsequent inquiry determined that the ships bow doors had been left open allowing water to get onto the car deck. 193 people died as a result of the sinking.
Following the sinking, later in 1987, European Ferries Group Plc was acquired by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
and renamed P&O European Ferries
P&O Ferries
P&O Ferries is the current name for the amalgamation of a range of ferry services that operated from the United Kingdom to Ireland and Continental Europe...
. The Townsend Thoresen branded ships were rebranded with P&O Ferries due to the bad publicity that the disaster had caused for the brand.
Townsend Thoresen
Townsend Brothers Ferries Ltd
Townsend Brothers Ferries was set up in 1929 and in 1930 it started the first cross channel accompanied car service between DoverDover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
and Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
. Their first ship was a converted minesweeper. In 1951 this was replaced with a converted frigate, which was superseded by their first purpose built roll-on/roll-off passenger and vehicle ferry which entered service in 1962.
Celebrating Townsend's private-sector status, in competition with the government-run services of British Railways and SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
on the Dover-Calais route the ship was named the Free Enterprise Two subsequent vessels entered service in 1965 and 1966, being named Free Enterprise II and Free Enterprise III respectively beginning a second route from Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
to Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
.
Thoresen Car Ferries Ltd
Thoresen Car Ferries began operation in 1964, with routes from SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
to Cherbourg and Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
. The company was set up as the Otto Thoresen Shipping Company by the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Otto Thoresen, a subsidiary Thoresen Car Ferries Ltd was setup in the United Kingdom to act as its agent. The names of their original vessels Viking I and Viking II, and the subsequent Viking III and Viking IV, reflected the company's Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n origins.
Atlantic Steam Navigation Company
The Atlantic Steam Navigation Company was incorporated in 1936 to operate a moderately priced trans-Atlantic passenger service, however this plan did not come to fruition due to the Second World War. In 1946 a primarily freight service between TilburyTilbury
Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. As a settlement it is of relatively recent existence, although it has important historical connections, being the location of a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry...
and Rotterdam
Port of Rotterdam
The Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe, located in the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands. From 1962 until 2004 it was the world's busiest port, now overtaken by first Shanghai and then Singapore...
was begun using converted tank carriers. In 1964 Atlantic began a freight service between Felixstowe
Felixstowe
Felixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. The town gives its name to the nearby Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom and is owned by Hutchinson Ports UK...
and Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, the following year adding a second service running to Antwerp. As a result of the expansion at Felixstowe, the Tilbury services were ended in 1968.
Following the acquisition by European Ferries in 1971, Atlantic began a ferry service between Cairnryan
Cairnryan
Cairnryan is a small Scottish village in Dumfries and Galloway on the eastern shore of Loch Ryan. The village has been of vital importance in maritime history.-Ferry Port:...
and Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
to make use of the Port of Larne which European Ferries had purchased in 1973. After their acquisition their ships carried Townsend Thoresen livery. Their ships' names carried the suffix "ferry", as in Europic Ferry, Doric Ferry, Baltic Ferry and Nordic Ferry.
Liveries
Townsend Thoresen had several different liveriesLivery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
during the history of the company. Former vessels from Townsend Brothers Ferries remained in their original livery, a greenish blue with white combination, while former vessels from Thoresen Car Ferries remained in their original brownish orange with white livery. From 1974 to 1976 the company used a greenish blue in combination with white for almost its entire fleet. The brownish orange livery was introduced in 1976 for the entire fleet and is probably the most recognized livery.
Routes
The company's routes were concentrated in four areas:Strait of Dover
Strait of Dover
The Strait of Dover or Dover Strait is the strait at the narrowest part of the English Channel. The shortest distance across the strait is from the South Foreland, 6 kilometres northeast of Dover in the county of Kent, England, to Cap Gris Nez, a cape near to Calais in the French of...
(former Townsend routes)
- DoverDoverDover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
- CalaisCalaisCalais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras.... - DoverDoverDover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
- Boulogne-sur-MerBoulogne-sur-Mer-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city.... - DoverDoverDover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
- ZeebruggeZeebruggeZeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
Western English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
(former Thoresen routes)
- SouthamptonSouthamptonSouthampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
- Le HavreLe HavreLe Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
(until mid-1980s) - SouthamptonSouthamptonSouthampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
- Cherbourg (until mid-1980s) - PortsmouthPortsmouthPortsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
- Le HavreLe HavreLe Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
(after mid-1980s) - PortsmouthPortsmouthPortsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
- Cherbourg (after mid-1980s)
Southern North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
- FelixstoweFelixstoweFelixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. The town gives its name to the nearby Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom and is owned by Hutchinson Ports UK...
- ZeebruggeZeebruggeZeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
(passenger) - FelixstoweFelixstoweFelixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. The town gives its name to the nearby Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom and is owned by Hutchinson Ports UK...
- RotterdamRotterdamRotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
(EuroportPort of RotterdamThe Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe, located in the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands. From 1962 until 2004 it was the world's busiest port, now overtaken by first Shanghai and then Singapore...
) (freight)
Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
- CairnryanCairnryanCairnryan is a small Scottish village in Dumfries and Galloway on the eastern shore of Loch Ryan. The village has been of vital importance in maritime history.-Ferry Port:...
- LarneLarneLarne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
Fleet
| Name | Period of service | Fate |
|---|---|---|
| Baltic Ferry MS Baltic Ferry MS Baltic Ferry was built in 1978 by South Korean based Hyundai H.I. for Stena Lines who had intended her, and 10 sister ships to be used for charter or sale to other operators. She was chartered by Townsend Thoresen in 1980, staying with them and their successor P&O Ferries and P&O Irish Sea... Requisitioned by MoD for Falklands Service |
1980–1987 (Except 1982 - 1983) | |
| Chantilly | 1966 | |
| Doric Ferry 1 | 1962–1981 | |
| Dragon (1985–1986) Ionic Ferry (1986–1987) |
1985–1987 | |
| European Clearway | 1976–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| European Enterprise | 1978–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| European Gateway MS European Gateway MS European Gateway is a roll-on roll-off car and passenger ferry built in 1975, originally owned and operated by Townsend Thoresen. In 1982, she capsized following a collision with the off Harwich, settling on a sandbank... |
1975–1982 | Sank in 1982, refloated later that year |
| European Trader | 1975–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Europic Ferry Requisitioned by MoD for Falklands Service |
1968 - 1987 (Except 1982) | |
| Free Enterprise (1962–1965) Free Enterprise I (1962–1980) |
1962–1980 | |
| Free Enterprise II MS Free Enterprise II Free Enterprise II was a ferryboat completed in 1965 in Holland by I.C.H. Holland, Werf Gusto Yard, Schiedam for Townsend Brothers Ferries .- Operational career :... |
1965–1982 | |
| Free Enterprise III | 1966–1984 | |
| Free Enterprise IV | 1969–1987 | |
| Free Enterprise V | 1970–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Free Enterprise VI | 1972–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Free Enterprise VII | 1973–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Free Enterprise VIII | 1974–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Hellas (1982–1983, 1985–1986) Doric Ferry 2 (1986–1987) |
1982–1983, 1985–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Herald of Free Enterprise | 1980–1987 | Sank outside Port of Zeebrugge in 1987. Later salvaged and scrapped. |
| Leopard | 1985–1986 | |
| Nordic Ferry Requisitioned by MoD for Falklands Service |
1980–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Pride of Free Enterprise MS Pride of Free Enterprise Oleander is one of a class of three roll-on/roll-off ferries built for Townsend Thoresen at the end of the 1970s. Her two sister ships were the and the infamous . She currently operates as the MV Oleander for Transeuropa Ferries-History:... |
1980–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Spirit of Free Enterprise MS Spirit of Free Enterprise MS Anthi Marina was the first of a class of three roll-on/roll-off ferries built for Townsend Thoresen at the end of the 1970s. Her two sister ships were the and the infamous .-As Spirit of Free Enterprise:... |
1979–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Stena Searider | 1986 | |
| Syria (1982–1983) Cerdic Ferry (1985–1987) |
1982–1983, 1985–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Tiger | 1985–1986 | |
| Viking I (1964–1976) Viking Victory (1976–1981) |
1964–1981 | |
| Viking II | 1964–1976 | Sold to SeaLink |
| Viking III | 1965–1982 | |
| Viking IV | 1967–1981 | |
| Viking Valiant MS Viking Valiant Pride of Le Havre was the name of ferry for P&O Ferries that sailed between Portsmouth and Le Havre from 1989 to 1994. From launch until 1994, she was known as the Viking Valiant for Townsend Thoresen and P&O. In 1994 she was renamed Pride of Cherbourg2 for P&O and continued under this name until... |
1974–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Viking Venturer | 1974–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Viking Voyager MS Viking Voyager The Viking Voyager was built by Aalborg Værft AS, Denmark in 1975 for European Ferries Group Plc who traded as Townsend Thoresen. European Ferries Group was purchased by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company and became P&O European Ferries and the ship was renamed Pride of... |
1975–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Viking Viscount | 1975–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Viking Trader 1 | 1980–1981 | |
| Viking Trader 2 | 1983–1987 | Acquired by P&O |
| Vortigern | 1987 |
In December 1985 Townsend Thoresen also ordered two new 20,000 ton vessels at a cost of £98 million which entered service in 1987 as the Pride of Dover
Pride of Dover
The MS Pride of Dover is a retired cross-channel ferry built in 1987 for Townsend Thoresen.-History:Pride of Dover was the last new ship to appear in service with the famous Townsend Thoresen orange hull, although she was delivered with the P&O house flag painted on her funnel in place of the...
and Pride of Calais
Pride of Calais
-History:MS Pride of Calais was built for Townsend Thoresen in 1987, and launched on the 11th of April of that same year, as the sister ship to the MS Pride of Dover. She can carry 650 cars and 2290 passengers...
, these arrived after the P&O takeover.
Jumboisation
In 1985 and 1986 four ships were rebuilt in a jumboisationJumboisation
Jumboisation is a technique in shipbuilding consisting of enlarging a ship by adding an entire section to it. By contrast with refitting or installation of equipment, jumboisation is a long and complex endeavour which can require a specialised shipyard....
project in order to increase their capacity. The 'Free Enterprise VI' and the 'Free Enterprise VII' were the ships of the Dover - Zeebrugge route which were rebuilt. The 'Viking Venturer' and the 'Viking Valiant' were the ships of the Portsmouth - Le Havre route which were rebuilt.
Port Operations
European Ferries Ltd operated three different ports within the United Kingdom, these are at LarneLarne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
, Cairnryan
Cairnryan
Cairnryan is a small Scottish village in Dumfries and Galloway on the eastern shore of Loch Ryan. The village has been of vital importance in maritime history.-Ferry Port:...
and Felixstowe
Port of Felixstowe
The Port of Felixstowe, in Felixstowe, Suffolk is the UK's busiest container port, dealing with 35% of the country's container cargo. It was developed following the abandonment of a project for a deep-water harbour at Maplin Sands. In 2005, it was ranked as the 28th busiest container port in the...
. All three were operated by European Ferries until they were acquired by P&O.
Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company
In 1976 European Ferries took over the operations of Port of Felixstowe following the purchase of the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company. Townsend Thoresen had begun a twice daily service from Felixstowe to Zeebrugge in 1974. By 1978, European Ferries had purpose built a passenger and freight terminal from which its subsidiary Townsend Thoresen could operate.Under the management of European Ferries, Felixstowe increased its container handling capacity to approximately 500,000 per annum and in 1980 a total of 252,802 containers were handled, making it the United Kingdoms largest container port. In 1984, Felixstowe became the first UK seaport to introduce computerised Custom's clearance.
The management of the port was continued by P&O upon the acquisition of European Ferries in 1987.
Larne Harbour Ltd
In 1973 European Ferries took over the operations of Port of Larne following the purchase of Larne Harbour Ltd. Under European Ferries management the Port prospered, making it the leading ro/ro port in Northern Ireland. European Ferries have improved the handling facilities for ro/ro operations with new double deck facilities in 1978 (the first in Ireland) and a new passenger terminal in 1985.Property management
European Ferries Group had a number of subsidiaries in the property management and development industry. These were managed by subsidiaries EF International Inc in the United States, Inmogold SA in Spain and Townsend Thoresen Developments Ltd and Townsend Thoresen Properties Ltd in the United Kingdom.In May 1985, European Ferries transferred the majority of its UK property interests to Stockley in exchange for a 44% share and as a result of Stockley's acquisition of 26.5% Stock Conversion this stake was reduced to 34.7%. European Ferries maintained a portfolio of around 15 to 20 properties in the UK and was also involved in a 1100 acres (4.5 km²) leisure development in Southern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and other properties in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
In the media
- In the 1969 original version of The Italian Job, the ferry used by the jobbers to reach the continent was the Free Enterprise I (around 40' into the film)
- In 1977, the Viking Valiant attended the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Fleet Review in the SolentSolentThe Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
- Townsend Thoresen was the sponsor for the British Formula Ford 1600cc ChampionshipBritish Formula Ford ChampionshipThe Formula Ford Championship single seater category is a motor sport category which gives many racing drivers their first step into car racing after karting...
in 1981, when future Formula OneFormula OneFormula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Grand PrixFormula OneFormula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
winner Ayrton SennaAyrton SennaAyrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver. A three-time Formula One world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time...
won the championship.
Falklands War
In 1982, three vessels operated by European Ferries were requisitionedSTUFT
STUFT is a nautical acronym for Ship Taken Up From Trade, and applies to civilian ships requisitioned for government use.The Falklands conflict of 1982 saw a diversity of Ships Taken Up From Trade...
by the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
to assist with the Falklands Campaign
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. The three vessels were; Europic Ferry, Nordic Ferry and Baltic Ferry
- Baltic Ferry was equipped with a helipad and carried three Army helicopters, 105 troops, and 1874 tons of stores and ammunition to Ajax BayAjax BayAjax Bay is a settlement on East Falkland, in the Falkland Islands, It is on the north west coast, on the shore of San Carlos Water, a few miles from Port San Carlos. It was mainly a refrigeration plant, and was developed by the Colonial Development Corporation in the 1950s, which was also...
on 1 June 1982. - Europic Ferry was equipped with a helipad and carried vehicles, ammunition, fuel, and four Scout helicopters of 656 Squadron Army Air Corps to San CarlosSan Carlos, Falkland IslandsSan Carlos is a settlement in northwestern East Falkland, lying south of Port San Carlos on San Carlos Water. It is sometimes nicknamed "JB" after a former owner, Jack Bonner.-History:...
on 21 May 1982. She left the Falkland Islands on 23 June 1982, 9 days after the end of hostilities. - Nordic Ferry was equipped with a helipad and carried troops, stores, and ammunition to the Falklands on 29 May 1982. She returned to the UK on 29 July 1982 and was refitted to return her to civilian service on 25 August 1982.
Following the Falklands War a number of lessons had been learnt by the British Government, in a bid to test their understanding of these lessons, the Ministry of Defence scheduled a military exercise named Exercise Purple Warrior in Scotland in November 1987. A number of vessels were chartered by the MoD, including European Ferries Viking Viscount. Prior to leaving for this charter the Viking Viscount was fitted with an extra ramp to enable unloading of vehicles to mexifloats. A number of military vehicles were embarked in Plymouth prior to the exercise beginning.
See also
- LarneLarneLarne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
- CairnryanCairnryanCairnryan is a small Scottish village in Dumfries and Galloway on the eastern shore of Loch Ryan. The village has been of vital importance in maritime history.-Ferry Port:...
- Port of FelixstowePort of FelixstoweThe Port of Felixstowe, in Felixstowe, Suffolk is the UK's busiest container port, dealing with 35% of the country's container cargo. It was developed following the abandonment of a project for a deep-water harbour at Maplin Sands. In 2005, it was ranked as the 28th busiest container port in the...
- P&O FerriesP&O FerriesP&O Ferries is the current name for the amalgamation of a range of ferry services that operated from the United Kingdom to Ireland and Continental Europe...
- Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation CompanyPeninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation CompanyThe Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
- MS Herald of Free Enterprise