P&O Irish Sea Ferries
P&O Irish Sea Ferries
P&O Irish Sea Ferries were formed in 1998 following the merger of the Cairnryan based services of P&O European Ferries (Felixstowe Ltd.) and Pandoro Ltd, who operated routes between England, Scotland and France to Ireland.
They provide a choice of services between Ireland and Wales, England and Scotland in the style and comfort of fast craft, new super ferries and conventional ships, with a fleet of twelve conventional vessels and one fast ferry.
History
The history of P&O Irish Sea Ferries begins in 1948 when Atlantic Steam Navigation Company (ASN) commenced operations between Preston and Larne with the chartered tank landing craft Empire Cedric. This was so successful that by 1950 the company had chartered three additional craft and opened a second link to Belfast.
The 1956 Suez crisis saw the entire fleet requisitioned by the British Government, and ships were chartered from Germany in order to continue services. Within two years, the company had purchased the Bardic Ferry and Ionic Ferry, the world’s first commercial roll-on, roll-off vessels, each capable of carrying lorries and with sufficient headroom for double-decker buses. First and second class accommodation for 55 passengers was provided, each with their own dining room and lounge.
Two larger vessels were subsequently ordered and entered service from Tilbury to Rotterdam and Antwerp in 1961/2. During the 1960s, ASN purchased a small pier at Cairnryan on Loch Ryan, Wigtownshire, and in 1970 they upgraded it for a new short-sea service.
The European Ferries Group (EFG) acquired ASN in 1971 and injected new ideas, new ships and a new style of service. Operations to Preston, with its tidal problems and long narrow course up the River Ribble, ceased and the Ionic Ferry was relocated to Cairnryan for trials before commencing the new service to Belfast services in July 1974.