Leopard

Leopard - Countess M - Mega I - Talya I

 

 

This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the 1968 Normandy Ferries vessel Leopard. She had a sistership Dragon.

 

Leopard was built for Normandy Ferries in 1968 by Ateliers et Chantiers de Bretagne, Nantes. Her registered owners were Societe Anonyme de Gerame et d'Armencent, (S.A.G.A.), and she flew the French flag. Leopard served on the Southampton-Le Havre route until 1984 when the UK port was changed to Portsmouth. She also ran LeHavre-Rosslare services. From 1976, ownership was P&O Normandy Ferries. In 1985, Normandy Ferries was sold to European Ferries (Townsend-Thoresen). A year later, Leopard was sold to Marlines and renamed Countess M. She was sold in 2000, serving as Dimitra A and Mega I. In 2002 she began service as Talya I between Brindisi-Cesme.

 

 

 

Ship Names on this Page:-

Leopard - Normandy Ferries/P&O Ferries 1968-85

Leopard - Townsend-Thoresen 1985-86

Countess M - Marlines 1986-2000

Talya I - 2002-

 

Associated Pages:-

Marlines

Normandy Ferries

P&O Ferries

P&O Portsmouth

P&O Scottish Ferries

Townsend Thoresen

Ferry Postcards

Cruise Ship Postcards

Ocean Liner Postcard

Simplon Postcards Home Page

 

Search This Website:-

powered by FreeFind  

 

 

 

 

 

Leopard

 

Leopard

(Normandy Ferries/P&O Ferries: 1968-85)

 

The French half of Normandy Ferrieswas was owned by S.A.G.A. (Societe Anonyme de Gerame et d'Armencent), and they built the Leopard for the service in 1967. In 1976, ownership passed to P&O Ferries, and the Leopard received the corporate pale blue hull. In 1980, the Normandy Ferries name was dropped and the P&O Ferries logo appeared on the hull. In 1985, the UK terminal was moved from Southampton to Portsmouth, followed soon afterwards by the sale of the Portsmouth and Dover routes to European Ferries. Leopard was repainted in Townsend-Thoresen orange for the 1985 season, but was then sold to Marlines and renamed Countess M. She was listed as owned by Marlines in 2000 ferry guides.

 

This is the official Normandy Ferries card of Leopard.

 

Harvey-Barton postcard of Leopard and Thoresen freight ferry Viking IV.

 

Harvey-Barton postcard of Leopard and Dragon together at Southampton.

 

John Hinde postcard 2/1317 of Leopard at Rosslare in Ireland.

 

An enlarged view of Leopard from the card above.

 

J.Arthur Dixon published postcard, serial L6/SP.5235, issued as official card for both Dragon and Leopard, in later Normandy Ferries colours (rather poorly added to an earlier image). Ship is actually Dragon.

 

Beric Tempest published postcard, issued as an official card for both Dragon and Leopard.

Ship is actually Dragon.

 

J.Arthur Dixon published postcard in P&O Ferries colours, serial L6/SP.6026, issued as an official card for both Dragon and Leopard. A retouched version of the card above. Ship is actually Dragon.

 

Belcolor postcard P118 of Leopard at Le Havre, in P&O Ferries colours.

 

 

 

 

 

Leopard - Ionic Ferry

(Townsend-Thoresen: 1985-86)

 

In 1985, the UK terminal was moved from Southampton to Portsmouth, followed soon afterwards by the sale of the Portsmouth and Dover routes to European Ferries. Leopard was repainted in Townsend-Thoresen orange for the 1985 season, but was then sold to Marlines and renamed Countess M. She was listed as owned by Marlines in 2000 ferry guides.

 

Simplon Postcards, serial 4.1, of Leopard leaving Portsmouth in Townsend-Thoresen colours.

This card was issued as part of a set of six cards, 4.1 to 4.6, titled Ferries of Portsmouth.

Photographed in 1985 by Ian Boyle.

 

 

 

 

 

Countess M

(Marlines: 1986-2000)

 

The ex-Leopard of Normandy Ferries, Townsend-Thoresen and P&O.

 

 

 

 

 

Talya I

(2002- )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marlines - Normandy Ferries - P&O Ferries - P&O Portsmouth

P&O Scottish Ferries - Townsend Thoresen

Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcard

Top of Page - Simplon Postcards Home Page

 

©1999-2003 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards (all pages on web site)
All Rights Reserved