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B&I Line
Page 2: Post War Ships 1945-1995
This page is devoted the post war fleet of B&I Line, originally the British & Irish Steam Packet Company.
An alphabetical list of ships
shown on this page is shown below.
The Table
beneath gives links to complete postcard history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table are official
postcards of the fleet
in chronological order. Numbers assigned to ships of the same name include earlier connected companies such as the
City of Dublin SP Co
, who also had, for example, ships named
Munster
built in 1860 and 1897. These are
Munster (1)
and
Munster (2)
, and are on the
City of Dublin SP Co
webpage.
The British & Irish Steam Packet Company had a long history stretching back to the beginnings of steamship operations, including predecessors such as the
City of Dublin SP Co
. The first transatlantic crossing by a steamship, the
Sirius
, was made by an early associated company. British & Irish eventually became part of the giant
Coast Lines
group, which effectively monopolised regular services on the Irish Sea (with the exception of railway-owned routes). Following an initial fleet rebuilding after WW2,
Coast Lines
allowed their passenger services to stagnate in the 1960s, not following European trends towards vehicle ferries. The Irish Government acquired British & Irish in 1965, with the intention of updating the services. Three new car ferries arrived in 1969, marketed at the time as B+I Motorway. This page concentrates on this State-owned period, but shows the earlier post-war vessels acquired at nationalisation. B&I suffered during the troubles in Ireland, when tourist traffic declined sharply, and they were taken over by
Irish Continental Line
in 1991. Services were amalgamated under the
Irish Ferries
banner in 1995.
Ships on This Page:-
Bison
(1989-1993, Chartered)
Connacht
(1979-1988)
Dundalk
(1975-1980)
Earl Harold
(1989, Chartered)
Innisfallen (3)
(1948-1968)
Innisfallen (4)
(1969-1980)
Innisfallen (5)
(1980-1986)
Isle of Inishmore
(1993-1995)
Isle of Innisfree (1)
(1992-1995, Chartered)
Leinster (4)
(1948-1969)
Leinster (5)
(1969-1980)
Leinster (6)
(1981-1993)
Meath (3)
(1960-19xx)
Munster (4)
(1948-1969)
Munster (5)
(1969-1983)
Munster (6)
(1990-1993)
Stena Nordica
(1981, Chartered)
Tipperary
(1979-1989)
Coast Lines Pages:-
British & Irish SP Co
- History 1826-1945
B & I Lines
- History 1945-1995
- this page!
City of Dublin SP Co
- Taken over by B&I in 1919
Coast Lines
P&O Ferries
Associated Pages:-
Brittany Ferries
Corsica Ferries
DFDS
Irish Ferries
Libra Maritime (HML)
Lion Ferry
Stena Line
Strintzis Lines
Trasmediterranea
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
References:-
The B&I Line:
by Hazel P.Smyth - Gill & Macmillan 1984
Across the Irish Sea:
by Robert Sinclair - Conway Maritime 1990
Irish Passenger Steamship Services - Volumes 1 & 2:
by D.B.McNeil - David & Charles 1969
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Table of Ship Histories
Name
Other names
Built
Innisfallen (3)
Poseidon
1948
Innisfallen (5)
Leinster (4), Ionian Sun
1969
Leinster (4)
Aphrodite
1948
Leinster (5)
Innisfallen (5), Ionian Sun
1969
Munster (4)
Theseus, Orpheus
1948
Tipperary
Puma, Norcape (2)
1979
B&I Fleet List
Leinster (4)
(B&I: 1948-69)
At the end of World War Two, the 1937
Leinster (3)
became the
Ulster Prince
for Belfast SS, and the 1938
Munster (3)
had been lost. Two new sisters were built in 1948. They were very similar to their predecessors, but differed externally in that the stump main mast was shorter and mounted in front of the well deck. Two derricks were located in the well. The windows below the boat deck had round portholes compared to rectangular on the pre-war sisters. The
Leinster (4)
and
Munster (4)
were sold in 1969 to Greek owners. The
Leinster (4)
was renamed
Aphrodite
and ran for Mediterranean Sun Lines. She was scrapped in 1988. I do not have pictures of either ship in nationalised livery with the arrow funnel logo. If you can help, please email:
simplon@simplon.co.uk
Complete history of
Leinster (4)
Official B&I postcard.
Munster (4)
(B&I: 1948-69)
The
Munster (4)
was the sister of the
Leinster (4)
above. The same card was issued for each ship. The text shown below is slightly different to the
Leinster (4)
card shown above. Both versions of the text were issued for both ships. The
Munster (4)
was sold in 1969. After a spell as
Theseus
, she operated as
Orpheus
for
Epirotiki Lines
, with lengthy charters to
Swan Hellenic
(part of
P&O Cruises
).
Complete history of
Munster (4)
Official B&I postcard.
Photographic card of the 1948
Munster (4)
.
A Real Photographs photo card of the 1948
Munster (4)
.
Photographic card of the 1948
Munster (4)
.
Photographic card of the 1948
Munster (4)
(or
Leinster (4)
) passing the new 1969
Munster (5)
.
Innisfallen (3)
(B&I: 1948-1968)
Innisfallen (3)
was built in 1948 for the British & Irish Steam Packet Co of Dublin. Unlike other similar Coast Lines motorships, she was built at Wm. Denny of Dumbarton, not Harland & Wolff, Belfast. She operated in City of Cork Steam Packet colours between Swansea and Cork until 1968, when she was sold. She re-entered service in 1969 as the
Poseidonia
of
Libra Maritime (HML)
. She was scrapped in 1985.
Complete history of
Innisfallen (3)
An official card of the
Innisfallen
of 1947.
Slight variations of this card have been issued with different lettering on the face and the back.
In her final years, the
Innisfallen
carried the nationalised B & I symbol on her funnel.
This photo was taken by Ian Boyle on the River Lee, Cork.
A Plastichrome card, serial P40309, of the
Innisfallen
on the River Lee, Cork.
An NPO card, serial 2273-32936C, of the
Innisfallen
on the River Lee, Cork.
Meath (3)
(1960-19xx)
Munster (5)
(1969-1983)
Munster (5)
was ordered by
Lion Ferry
as one of a series of ships built by Werft Nobiskrug GmbH, Rendsburg. The other ships in the series were
Prins Bertil, Gustav Vasa
and
Kronprins Karl Gustav
of
Lion Ferry
, and the
Innisfallen (4)
of B&I. A further B&I ship
Leinster (5)
was built by Verolme Cork Dockyards Ltd.
Munster (5)
was sold to the B&I Steam Packet Co before delivery in 1969, entering service between Dublin-Liverpool.
Munster (5)
could be identified from her "sisters" through not having the Sky Lounge above the bridge. In 1981
Munster (5)
served between Pembroke Dock and Rosslare, before being laid up in Liverpool. In 1992
Munster (5)
was chartered for service in Norway, before returning to Liverpool. In early 1993
Munster (5)
briefly returned to B&I service between Liverpool-Dublin and Dublin-Holyhead, before being sold for service to Saudi Arabia as the
Farah I
. In 1991 she became the Chinese
Tian Peng
.
Photographic card of the new
Munster (5)
being passed by the 1948
Munster (4)
(or
Leinster (4)
).
Official B&I Line of
Munster (5)
and
Leinster (5)
(background).
Company marketing name at this time was B+I Motorway.
Official B&I postcard of
Munster
(John Hinde 1168).
Original funnel emblem.
Official B&I postcard of
Munster
(John Hinde 2/1168).
Later funnel emblem.
Photographic card of the
Munster (5)
.
Innisfallen (4)
(1969-1980)
Innisfallen (4)
was built in 1969 by Werft Nobiskrug GmbH, Rendsburg. She was one of a series of similar ships built in Rendsburg, the others being
Prins Bertil, Gustav Vasa
and
Kronprins Karl Gustav
of
Lion Ferry
, and the
Munster
of B&I. A further B&I ship
Leinster (5)
was built by Verolme Cork Dockyards Ltd.
Innisfallen (4)
entered service between Swansea-Cork in May 1969, replacing the 1948
Innisfallen (3)
. In 1979,
Innisfallen (4)
transferred to the Liverpool-Dublin route. In 1980
Innisfallen (4)
was sold to the Tourship Group and entered service as
Corsica Viva
for
Corsica Ferries
. When she was sold, sistership
Leinster (5)
was renamed
Innisfallen (5)
to replace her.
In 1994, Corsica Ferries advertised a Caribbean ferry service between Martinique, Dominica and St Lucia as Caribia Ferries, for which
Corsica Viva
was renamed
Dominican Viva
. Upon return, she was named
Corsica Viva I
, and later
Sardinia Viva
. In 1993 she was used on a different Caribbean service as the
Caribia Viva
. Subsequently sold, she received the name
Happy Dolphin
in 1998 and continued to serve Bastia, but from La Spezia. Happy Lines ceased operations in 2002, and
Happy Dolphin
passed to Sancak Lines (Turkey) as the
Derin Deniz
.
Official B&I Line of
Innisfallen (4)
.
Company marketing name at this time was B+I Motorway.
Judges postcard (C2186) of
Innisfallen (4)
at Swansea.
Judges postcard (C2112) of
Innisfallen (4)
at Swansea.
John Hinde postcard (2/166) of
Innisfallen (4)
at Black Castle (Co.Cork).
Photo: D.Noble
Eason postcard (C18) of
Innisfallen (4)
at Cork.
The following pictures show
Innisfallen (4)
leaving Liverpool on a day sailing from Dublin.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 1979.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 1979.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 1979.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 1979.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 1979.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 1979.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 1979.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 1979.
Leinster (5)
(1969-1980)
Innisfallen (5)
(1980-1986)
Leinster (5)
was built in 1969 by Verolme Cork Dockyards Ltd for B&I Line, Dublin, for their Liverpool-Dublin route. In 1980 she was renamed
Innisfallen (5)
to replace her sistership
Innisfallen (4)
, and she transferred to the Cork-Pembroke Dock route. From 1983, she also served Rosslare. In 1986,
Innisfallen (5)
was sold to
Strintzis Lines
as the
Ionian Sun
. In 1990,
Ionian Sun
returned to her old haunts when chartered to Swansea Cork Ferries. In 2001
Strintzis Lines
sold her to Marco Shipping Agency as the
Merdif
.
Complete history of
Leinster (5)
Official B&I postcard of
Leinster
(John Hinde 2/1314).
NPO Dexter postcard (12333-53812C) of
Leinster
at Dublin.
Real photographic postcard of
Leinster
.
Real photographic postcard of
Leinster
.
The following two pictures of
Leinster
were taken at Swansea
Photo: © Ian Boyle, April 1977
Photo: © Ian Boyle, April 1977
The following two pictures show
Leinster
arriving at Liverpool, on a day sailing from Dublin.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 1979
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 1979
John Hinde postcard (2/166) of
Innisfallen (5)
(ex-
Leinster)
at Rosslare.
St Killian II
in the background.
Photo: P.O'Toole
Photographic postcard of
Innisfallen (5)
(ex-
Leinster)
.
Dundalk
(1975-1980)
Dundalk
was built in 1974 by Verolme Cork Dockyards Ltd for B&I Line. Between 1979-80
Dundalk
was chartered to Sessan Line, followed by a brief period with Sealink. In 1980 she was sold to Stena Line and renamed
Stena Sailer
. Further charters followed to
Sealink
,
North Sea Ferries
, IOMSPCo, Belfast Freight Ferries and Lion Ferry, who renamed her
Lion Sailer
. In 1987
Stena Sailer
was again chartered to
Sealink
for Fishguard-Rosslare and Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire service. She was purchased in 1980 and renamed
St Cybi
. Ownership passed back to
Stena Line
when
Sealink
was acquired from Sea Containers in 1990. She has subsequently served as
Wind Cybi
and
Theseus
, receiving additional passenger accommodation in 1992.
Dundalk
at Harwich Navy Yard in 1976 (unknown charter).
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1976
Connacht
(1979-1988)
Connacht
was built in 1979 by Verolme Cork Dockyards Ltd for B&I Line.
Connacht
entered service between Cork-Swansea, soon transferring to Cork-Pembroke Dock. In 1980
Connacht
swapped with
Innisfallen
(ex-
Leinster
) and moved to Liverpool-Dublin. In 1988
Connacht
was sold to
Brittany Ferries
as the
Duchesse Anne
, and served on various routes until 1996 when sold to Jadrolinja as the
Dubrovnik
.
Archway postcard 2583 of
Connacht
.
Dennis postcard H.1915 of
Connacht
.
John Hinde postcard of
Connacht
.
Tipperary
(1979-1989)
Tipperary
was built by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd for P&O Ferries, intended name being
Puma
. She was chartered to B&I Line as
Tipperary
for use between Liverpool-Dublin. In 1988 she was sold to
North Sea Ferries
for use as
Norcape
between Europort-Ipswich and Hull-Zeebrugge. In 1996 registered owners became
P&O North Sea Ferries
. Her sister was the
Ibex
of Pandoro.
Complete history of
Tipperary
Real photographic aerial card of
Tipperary
.
Real photographic card of
Tipperary
at Fleetwood.
Real photographic card of
Tipperary
at Fleetwood.
Real photographic card of
Tipperary
at Fleetwood.
Real photographic card of
Tipperary
at Fleetwood.
Leinster (6)
(1981-1993)
Isle Of Inishmore (1)
(1993-1995)
Leinster (6)
was built in 1981 by Verolme Cork Dockyards Ltd for B&I Line.
Leinster (6)
entered service between Liverpool-Dublin, and dublin-Holyhead from 1982. In 1993 she was renamed
Isle of Inishmore
, and served on the Rosslare-Pembroke Dock route.
Isle of Inishmore
was amalgamated into the Irish Ferries fleet, receiving their green livery. In 1996 she was renamed
Isle of Inishturk
to release the name for the new
Isle of Inishmore
. In 1997 the
Isle of Inishturk
was sold to Canadian owners for service as the
Madeleine
.
Photographic card of the
Leinster (5)
, before hull lettering was applied.
Chantry Classics postcard of
Leinster (6).
Official B&I postcard of
Leinster (6).
Official B&I postcard of
Leinster (6).
Official B&I postcard of
Leinster (6).
Ferry Publications 414 postcard of
Leinster (6).
Ferrycards postcard No.6 of
Isle of Inishmore.
Photo: © Gordon Hislip.
Ferrywise postcard of
Isle of Inishmore.
Photo: © Terence Mitchell.
Ferry Publications 804 postcard of
Isle of Inishmore.
Stena Nordica
(1980-81, Chartered)
Stena Nordica
was built in 1975 by Rickmers Werft, GmbH, Bremerhaven, one of four
Stena Line
vessels intended purely for charter work. The sisters were
Stena Normandica
(1974),
Stena Atlantica
(1975),
and
Stena Nautica
(1975).
Stena Nordica
was used briefly on Göteborg-Kiel, before charter during summer 1976 to Marine Atlantic for service North Sydney-Port Aux Basques, returning in summer 1977. After spending the winter 1977/78 with
Townsend-Thoresen
between Felixstowe-Zeebrügge, she returned to Marine Atlantic again during summer 1978, followed by use as
Hellas
for Hellas Ferries, reverting to
Stena Nordica
for 1979's Marine Atlantic charter. Through winter 1979/80
Stena Nordica
operated for
Stena Line
(Göteborg-Kiel), Sealink (Fishguard-Rosslare) and Hellas Ferries as
Hellas
again.
In winter 1980/81,
Stena Nordica
was chartered by B&I Line for Rosslare-Pembroke Dock use, but had to visit Birkenhead for
machinery repairs as shown in the photographs below. In 1981, the Marine Atlantic and Hellas Ferries charters were again repeated. On return, Hellas was renamed
Stena Nautica
. She was chartered to Regie voor Maritieme Transport for Oostende-Dover service, in whose service she remained for the next 14 years. In 1983 she was purchased by RTM and renamed
Reine Astrid
. In 1994,
Reine Astrid
transferred to the Oostende-Ramsgate route. In 1997,
Reine Astrid
was sold to
Moby Lines
as
Moby Kiss
, joining sistership
Moby Vincent
. Moby Kiss was chartered almost immediately to COMANAV for use between Algeciras-Tangier as
Al Mansour
. In 1998 she was purchased by COMANAV.
Complete history of
Stena Nordica
Stena Nordica
arriving at Birkenhead for engine repairs, December 1980.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1980.
Stena Nordica
arriving at Birkenhead for engine repairs, December 1980.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1980.
Photograph of
Stena Nordica
on B&I Line charter.
Photo: Andreas Wörteler.
Scan:
Fakta om Fartyg
.
Bison
(1989-1993, Chartered)
Bison
was one of three ships ordered by Stena Line for delivery in 1975 by J.J.Sietas KG Schiffswerke GmbH. & Co, Hamburg. They were bought by
P&O Ferries
and
Bison
entered service with Pandoro between Fleetward-Larne. In 1989
Bison
was chartered to B&I Line for Liverpool-Dublin service, returning to P&O and the Fleetwood-Larne route in 1993. In 1995 she was rebuilt with an extra trailer deck. In 1998
Bison
was renamed
European Pioneer
.
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S194 of
Bison.
Photo: © Gordon Hislip.
Earl Harold
(1989, Chartered)
Earl Harold
was built as the
Ailsa Princess
for
Sealink's
Stranraer-Larne route in 1971 by Cant. Nav. Breda S.p.A. In 1980 she briefly worked between Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire, and in 1982 briefly between Heysham-Douglas (IOM). During summers of 1982-1984
Ailsa Princess
worked on the Weymouth-Cherbourg route. In 1984,
Sealink
ownership transferred to Sea Contaners, and
Ailsa Princess
was renamed
Earl Harold
. From 1985-88,
Earl Harold
ran between Weymouth and the Channel Isles. In 1989 she was chartered to B&I Line for Pembroke Dock-Rosslare services. She was then sold to Greek owners and ran as
Dimitra
for
GA Ferries
. In 1994,
Dimitra
was passed to Agapitos Line and was renamed
Naias Express
. In 2000 she became
Express Adonis
with
Hellas Ferries
.
Ferry Publications postcard 0124 of
Earl Harold
in B&I colours.
Munster (6)
(1990-1993)
Munster (6)
was built as the
Prins Oberon
in 1970 by Werft Nobiskrug, Rendsburg (the builders of
Munster (5)
) for
Lion Ferry
. She entered service for
Prinzen Linien
between Bremerhaven-Harwich. In 1978 she was sold to German owners and the name was revised to
Prinz Oberon
. In 1981, the line was acquired by
DFDS
, and the Harwich-Bremerhaven rote was closed at the end of 1982. Following charters to SMZ and
Sealink
,
Prins Oberon
was laid up, returning for brief periods on
DFDS
services Esbjerg-Newcastle-Göteborg and a new Cuxhaven-Harwich-Göteborg route in 1984. Following further charters, she was sold for Malaysian services as
Cruise Muhibah
. From 1990-93 she was chartered to B&I as
Munster (6)
between Rosslare-Pembroke Dock. Various Mediterranean charters followed as
Ambassador
and
Ambassador II
. In 1997 she was rebuilt for short casino cruises from Florida, still named
Ambassador II
.
Official B&I postcard of
Munster (6),
ex
-Prinz Oberon.
Ramsey Postcards 17 of
Munster (6),
ex
-Prinz Oberon.
Ferry Publications 0203 of
Munster (6),
ex
-Prinz Oberon.
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S190 of
Munster (6),
ex
-Prinz Oberon.
Photo: © Gordon Hislip.
Isle Of Innisfree (1)
(1992, 1993-95, Chartered)
Isle of Innisfree
was built in 1986 by Nakskov Skipsværft A/S as the
Niels Klim
of Danske Statsbaner (DSB). Her sistership was
Peder Paars
. They operated on the Århus-Kalundborg route of DSB, but were not a success, and were sold to
Stena Line
in 1990, for delivery in 1991.
Niels Klim
was renamed
Stena Nautica
, and laid up in Svendborg. In 1992 she was briefly chartered to B&I Line, followed by a return to DSB on old route Århus-Kalundborg. In March 1993 she returned to B&I on longer term charter, and was renamed
Isle of Innisfree
for their services Rosslare-Pembroke Dock and Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead. In 1995 she was chartered to Stena subsidiary Lion Ferry as
Lion King
between Halmstad-Grenå. In 1996 she was renamed
Lion King II
, reverting to
Stena Nautica
when the charter ended. During summer 1997
Stena Nautica
ran for
Trasmediterranea
between Algeciras-Tangier, before returning to
Stena Line
services Karlskrona-Gdynia, Halmstad-Grenå then Varberg-Grenå. In 2001
Stena Nautica
was rebuilt with extra vehicle decks, passenger capacity reducing from 2000 to 833.
Official B&I postcard of
Isle of Innisfree.
Simplon Postcards sp1154, issued October 1993, of
Isle of Innisfree.
Photo: © Philippe Holthof.
Ferry Publications 413 postcard of
Isle of Innisfree.
Ferrycards postcard No.17 of
Isle of Innisfree.
Photo: © Gordon Hislip.
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