Lion - Baroness M - Portelet

 

 

This page is devoted to postcards of the ferry Lion. In 1967, three new car ferries were delivered to Coast Lines to update their Irish Sea services. The Lion took over the Ardrossan-Belfast day service of Burns & Laird, whilst Ulster Prince and Ulster Queen replaced the pre-war motorships Ulster Prince and Ulster Monarch on the Liverpool-Belfast night service of the Belfast Steamship Co. Coast Lines were purchased by P&O in 1971.

 

The Lion was transferred to P&O's new Dover-Boulogne service in 1976. In 1985, P&O's English Channel services were sold to European Ferries, operating as Townsend-Thoresen. Lion was soon sold to Greek ferry company Marlines, and was used on a service between Italy, Greece and Turkey, renamed Baroness M. Extra cabins were added on the stern upper deck. Between 1987-88 she returned to UK waters as the Portelet, on charter to British Channel Island Ferries between Weymouth and the Channel Isles. Following her return to Greece at the end of the charter, she remained with Marlines until disappearing from their fleet lists between 1997-98.

 

 

Ship Names on This Page:-

1967-76:- Burns & Laird - Lion

1976-85:- Normandy Ferries/P&O Ferries - Lion

1985-97:- Marlines - Baroness M

1987-88:- British Channel Island Ferries - Portelet

 

Associated Pages:-

Marlines

Normandy Ferries - P&O Dover-Boulogne service to which Lion was transferred.

British Channel Islands Ferries

Coast Lines Header Page

Burns & Laird Car Ferries - Ardrossan-Belfast day services.

Ferry 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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Lion

Burns & Laird (1967-76)

 

In 1967, three new car ferries were delivered to Coast Lines to update their Irish Sea services. The Lion took over the Ardrossan-Belfast day service of Burns & Laird, whilst the Ulster Prince and Ulster Queen replaced the pre-war motorships on the Liverpool-Belfast night service of the Belfast Steamship Co. Coast Lines were purchased by P&O in 1971. The Lion was transferred to the P&O Dover-Boulogne service in 1976. Lion was 4100 tons, and 365ft long. She carried 1200 passengers.

 

 

Official Burns & Laird Line postcard of the Lion.

 

 

 

Simplon Postcards sp1080 of the Lion, issued December 1991.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lion

Normandy Ferries/P&O Ferries/TT (1976-85)

 

Normandy Ferries began service in 1967 between Southampton and Le Havre with the ferries Dragon and Leopard. The company was a joint operation, with the British flag Dragon owned by P&O subsidiary General Steam Navigation, and the French flag Leopard owned by S.A.G.A. (Societe Anonyme de Gerame et d'Armencent).

 

In 1976, all P&O ferry subsidiaries were amalgamated under the single company P&O Ferries. In the same year, the Lion was moved from the Burns & Laird Ardrossan-Belfast route to start a new Dover-Boulogne service. Initially, this was also marketed as Normandy Ferries (although Boulogne is not in Normandy!). However, in 1980 the Normandy Ferries name was dropped, and all ferries received the P&O Ferries logo on their hulls. The Tiger joined the Dover-Boulogne route in 1978, followed by her sister Panther in 1979. In 1985, P&O's English Channel services were sold to European Ferries, operating as Townsend-Thoresen. Soon afterwards, Lion was sold to Marlines of Greece, becoming their Baroness M. Only two years later, the Dover-Boulogne service reverted to P&O Ferries ownership when they acquired the whole of European Ferries. The service was later abandoned.

 

 

Official card of Lion.

 

 

 

J.Arthur Dixon postcard, serial L6/SP.4342, issued as an official card of Lion, in Normandy Ferries colours (rather poorly added to an earlier image).

 

 

 

Estel postcard of Lion at Boulogne, as originally transferred from Ardrossan with a black hull.

 

 

 

Editions Mage postcard 6223/96 of Lion at Boulogne, as originally transferred from Ardrossan with a black hull.

 

 

 

J.Arthur Dixon published postcard, serial L6/SP.5236, issued as an official card of Lion, in Normandy Ferries colours (rather poorly added to an earlier image).

 

 

 

Beric Tempest published postcard, issued as an official card for both Lion and Tiger, in Normandy Ferries colours.

 

 

 

Editions Combier postcard, serial C1 62160-1-0268 of Lion, in P&O Ferries colours at Boulogne.

I do not have an official P&O Ferries card of Lion.

 

 

 

Editions Mage postcard, serial 6223-144 of Lion, in P&O Ferries colours at Boulogne.

 

 

 

The large postcard below was printed for P&O Normandy Ferries by G.F.Wilson (Southampton). The card shows the two Dover-Boulogne vessels Lion and Tiger (Panther had yet to join the fleet). Click on the picture to open a larger image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baroness M

(Marlines)

 

In 1985, P&O's English Channel services were sold to European Ferries, operating as Townsend-Thoresen. Lion was soon sold to Greek ferry company Marlines, and was used on a service between Italy, Greece and Turkey, renamed Baroness M. Extra cabins were added on the stern upper deck. Between 1987-88 she returned to UK waters as the Portelet, on charter to British Channel Island Ferries between Weymouth and the Channel Isles. Following her return to Greece at the end of the charter, she remained with Marlines until disappearing from their fleet lists between 1997-98.

 

 

The official Marlines postcard of Baroness M.

 

 

 

Ramsey Postcards serial 83 of Baroness M, photographed by A.Stracey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portelet

British Channel Island Ferries (1987-88)

 

Between 1987-88 Baroness M returned to UK waters as the Portelet, on charter to British Channel Island Ferries (BCIF) between Weymouth and the Channel Isles. Following her return to Greece at the end of the charter, she remained with Marlines until disappearing from their fleet lists between 1997-98.

 

 

This is the official BCIF card of Portelet.

 

 

 

 

 

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