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North Sea Ferries

 

P&O North Sea Ferries

P&O Ferries

 

 

This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of North Sea Ferries. 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. All passenger ships are shown, plus a selection of freight ferries where postcards exist.

 

In 2003, P&O North Sea Ferries was incorporated into a single company P&O Ferries, combining the previously separate operations based at Hull, Dover and Portsmouth. The Norsea and Norsun were renamed Pride of York and Pride of Bruges.

 

 

Ships on this Page:-

Argo - 1986-89

Landi - 1998

Norbank - 1993-

Norbay - 1994-

Norcape (1) - 1970-74

Norcape (2) - 1988-

Norcove - 1991-94

Norking - 1991-

Norland - 1974-2002

Norqueen - 1991-

Norsea (1) - 1984-1986

Norsea (2) - 1987-2003 - later Pride of York

Norsky (1) - 1977-1980

Norsky (2) - 1986-1995

Norsky (3) - 1999-

Norstar - 1966-87

Norsun - 1987-2003 - later Pride of Bruges

Norwave - 1966-87

Norwind - 1966-87

Pride of Bruges - 2003- ex-Norsun

Pride of Hull - 2001-

Pride of Rotterdam - 2001-

Pride of York - 2003- ex-Norsea (2)

Ursine - P&O Charter 2007-

Viking 6 - 1982 (chartered)

 

Associated Pages:-

P&O Ferries

P&O Portsmouth

P&O Tilbury

SNAV

Ferry Postcards

Simplon Postcards Home Page

 

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Table of Ship Histories

Name	Other names	Built
Norcape (2)	Puma, Tipperary	1979
Norland	SNAV Sicilia	1972
Norsea (1)	Ibex, Norsky (2), European Envoy, Envoy	1979
Norsky (2)	Ibex, Norsea (1), European Envoy, Envoy	1979
Norstar	SNAV Campania	1972
Viking 6	Stena Britannica, Goelo, Moby Dream, Sardegna Bella etc	1967

 

 

 

 

 

Fleet List

 

 

Norwind

(North Sea Ferries: 1965-1987)

 

Hull-Rotterdam(Europoort) service.

4306 tons, 360 ft long, 235 passengers (plus 200 cars).

 

North Sea Ferries was a joint Anglo-Dutch company, of which the Dutch half was owned by Nordzee Veerdiensten of Rotterdam. Norwind was built in 1966 by A.G."Weser" Werk Seebeck, Bremerhaven, and flew the Dutch flag. The UK-flag sistership Norwave is shown below. They ran on the Hull-Rotterdam service until replaced by new tonnage in 1974, when they transferred to Hull-Zeebrugge. In 1987, Norwind was sold to Ventouris and renamed Grecia Express. She was deemed to be a total constructive loss (TCL) following sinking in 1993.

 

 

An official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norwind

Published by J.Arthur Dixon (SP.1210)

 

 

 

A later version of the same North Sea Ferries postcard of Norwind

Published by J.Arthur Dixon (SP.1210).

Colours were less saturated in this release.

 

 

 

Ramsey postcard 20 of Norwind.

 

 

 

Chantry Classics CC/S1 of Norwind, photographed by Tom Chantry.

 

 

 

Photograph of Norwind at Zeebrugge in 1986.

Photo: © Ian Boyle.

 

 

 

Photograph of Norwind at Zeebrugge in 1986.

Photo: © Ian Boyle.

 

 

 

Official Ventouris Ferries postcard of Grecia Express.

 

 

 

Simplon Postcards sp1081 (issued December 1991) of Grecia Express.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norwave

(North Sea Ferries: 1965-1987)

 

Hull-Rotterdam(Europoort) service.

4306 tons, 360 ft long, 235 passengers (plus 200 cars).

 

North Sea Ferries was a joint Anglo-Dutch company, of which the Dutch half was owned by Nordzee Veerdiensten of Rotterdam. Norwave was built in 1966 by A.G."Weser" Werk Seebeck, Bremerhaven, and flew the UK flag. The Dutch-flag sistership Norwind is shown above. They ran on the Hull-Rotterdam service until replaced by new tonnage in 1974, when they transferred to Hull-Zeebrugge. In 1987, Norwave was sold to Ventouris and renamed Italia Express. She was deemed to be a total constructive loss (TCL) following an explosion during rebuilding in 1988.

 

 

This is an early official monochrome North Sea Ferries postcard of Norwave.

 

 

 

An early official colour North Sea Ferries postcard of Norwave.

 

 

 

A larger version of the same image

Published by J.Arthur Dixon (SP.1418)

 

 

 

A later official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norwave

Published by J.Arthur Dixon (also SP.1418)

 

 

 

Oversized official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norwave and Norland.

 

 

 

Chantry Classics CC/S7 of Norwave, photographed by Tom Chantry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norcape (1)

(North Sea Ferries: 1970-1974)

 

Norcape (1) was built as the Rhonetal for Rhienecke of Hamburg. Between December 1970 and May 1974 she served as the Norcape with North Sea Ferries under charter between Hull and Zeebrugge/Rotterdam. She reverted to the name Rhonetal at the end of the charter. In May 1975 Rhonetal was sold to Co. Meridionale de Navagition (CMN) of Marseille, as the Rhone for service between Marseille and Bastia. In 1977, Rhone was sold to Societe Slibail, also of Marseille. In 1987, Rhone was sold to Compagnia Navigazione del Tirreno Conatir SpA as the Marina Torre. She was chartered by P&O Scottish Ferries in 1989 for Aberdeen-Lerwick services, and was purchased the following year. She was renamed St Rognvald (4). In 2002 she was chartered to Norse Island Ferries, for Aberdeen-Kirkwall services.

 

 

I do not have a photogrph as the Norcape.

This is M.N.W.Edwards postcard Br.f3 of St Rognvald (4) arriving at Stromness in 1991.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norland

(North Sea Ferries: 1974-2002)

 

Norland was built in 1974 by AG 'Weser', Werk Seebeck, Bremerhaven for Dutch North Sea Ferries partners Nordzee Verdiensten N.V., Rotterdam. Norland replaced Norwave on the Hull-Rotterdam route. In April 1982 she was chartered by the UK Ministry of Defence to take part in the Falklands campaign. Whilst she was away, Viking 6 was chartered to replace her. Norland returned to NSF service in April 1983. In 1987 Norland transferred to the Hull-Zeebrugge route when new tonnage was delivered. From 1996, ownership became P&O North Sea Ferries. In 2002 Norland was sold to SNAV as the SNAV Sicilia for service between Naples-Palermo.

 

 

Official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norland.

Published J.Arthur Dixon L6/SP.3948.

 

 

 

Official North Sea Ferries postcard showing Norland and Norwind.

 

 

 

Oversized official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norwave and Norland.

 

 

 

Official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norland, in later blue colours.

Published by Marine Art (Marine Series 1).

 

 

 

Official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norland

The photo from the card above with name removed and issued to cover both ships.

Published J.Arthur Dixon L6/SP.9542.

 

 

 

Official oversized P&O North Sea Ferries postcard of Norland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norstar

(North Sea Ferries: 1974-2002)

 

Norstar was built in 1974 by AG 'Weser', Werk Seebeck, Bremerhaven for Dutch North Sea Ferries partners Nordzee Verdiensten N.V., Rotterdam. Norstar replaced Norwind on the Hull-Rotterdam route. In 1987 Norstar transferred to the Hull-Zeebrugge route when new tonnage was delivered. From 1998, ownership became P&O North Sea Ferries. In 2002 Norland was sold to SNAV as the SNAV Campania for service between Naples-Palermo. A complete postcard history of this ship, including additional commercial postcards in North Sea Ferries ownership, is available on this link.

 

 

Official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norstar (actually an edited picture of Norland).

Published J.Arthur Dixon L6/SP.6780.

 

 

 

Oversized official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norstar (actually an edited picture of Norland).

 

 

 

Official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norland - name removed and postcard issued to cover both Norland and Norstar.

Published J.Arthur Dixon L6/SP.9542.

 

 

 

Oversized official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norstar.

 

 

 

Official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norstar.

Published by Marine Art (Marine Series 2).

 

 

 

Official oversized P&O North Sea Ferries postcard of Norstar.

 

 

 

Official P&O North Sea Ferries postcard of Norstar.

 

 

 

Mariner Cards issue MA03 of Norstar in initial P&O North Sea Ferries colours.

Photo: © Hilton Davis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Viking 6

(chartered: 1982)

 

Viking 6 was chartered from April-November 1982 to replace Norland whilst she was on Falklands service. A complete postcard history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Chantry Classics CC/S24 of Viking 6.

Photographed by Norman G.Tracy at King George Dock, Hull, whilst on charter to North Sea Ferries in 1982,

whilst their Norland was involved in the Falklands campaign.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norsky (1)

(North Sea Ferries: 1977-1980)

 

Norsky (1) was built in 1977 by Hyundai Shipbuilders & Heavy Industries, Ulsan, South Korea for Stena Line. She was chartered to North Sea Ferries as Norsky (1) between 1977-80. She then undertook various other charters around the world until being rebuilt with additional passenger accommodation in 1987 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg. She then entered traffic for Gotlandslinjen between Oskarshamn-Visby as the Graip. Sisterships to Norsky (1) in UK service include: Baltic Ferry, Cerdic Ferry (2), Doric Ferry and Nordic Ferry.

 

 

Duncan photographic card of Norsky (1).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norsea (1) (North Sea Ferries: 1984-1986)

Norsky (2) (North Sea Ferries: 1986-1995)

 

Norsea (1) was built in 1979 by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, Tamano, Japan for P&O Ferries, and entered service as the Ibex in 1979 on their Fleetwood-Larne Pandoro service. Her sistership was Norcape (2). In 1984 Ibex was transferred to the North Sea Ferries' Ipswich-Rotterdam (Europoort) service as the Norsea (1). In 1986, the name was changed to Norsky (2), releasing the original name for the new large passenger ferry Norsea (2). In 1995 Norsky (2) transferred back to the Irish Sea as Ibex, this time running Liverpool-Dublin. In 1996 she was substantially rebuilt, with a new upper trailer deck. In 1998 Ibex was renamed European Envoy.

 

Complete history of Norsea(1)/Norsky (2)

 

 

Photograph of Norsea (1) off Felixstowe in NSF orange.

Photo: © Ian Boyle.

 

 

 

Duncan photographic card as Norsea (1) in P&O pale blue.

 

 

Aerial photographic card as Norsea (1) in P&O pale blue.

 

 

 

Gordon Hislip Ferrycards release No.19 of Norsky (2) back in Pandoro service on the Irish Sea in 1995.

 

 

 

 

 

Argo (North Sea Ferries: 1986-1989)

Norcove (North Sea Ferries: 1991-1994)

Landi (North Sea Ferries: 1998)

 

Argo was built in 1976 by Krögerwerft GmbH, Rendsburg, for Argo Reederei. In 1977 she was chartered to Fred Olsen Line as Brabent. Between 1977-78 she was chartered by TOR Line. In November 1978 there was a brief charter to North Sea Ferries for use on Ipswich and Hull to Rotterdam. Various other charters followed until 1986 when she started a longer term charter to North Sea Ferries for their Ipswich-Europoort service, retaining the name Argo. Following spells with Olau Line and P&O Ferries (at Dover), she returned to North Sea Ferries service between 1991-94, this time as the Norcove. she then served on various other charters as the Aries, Saga Aris, Sally Euroway and Euroway before receiving the name Landi. Under this name she briefly returned to North Sea Ferries in November/December 1998. Since then she has carried the names Eurolandia and Patricia Del Mar.

 

 

Chantry Classics postcard CC/S141 of Argo in North Sea Ferries service at Hull.

Photo: © Tom Chantry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norsea (North Sea Ferries: 1987-2003)

Pride of York (P&O: 2003- )

 

Norsea (2) was built in 1987 by Govan Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, for North Sea Ferries (P&O Group). She entered service between Hull-Rotterdam. Following internal rebuilding, Norsea transferred to the Hull-Zeebrugge service in 2002, receiving P&O Ferries livery at the same time. In 2003 Norsea was renamed Pride of York, and received the revised P&O colours.

 

 

Official North Sea Ferries postcard issued to cover both sisters Norsun and Norsea - the ship shown is actually Norsea.

Published J.Arthur Dixon L6/SP.9532.

 

 

 

Official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norsea.

Published by Marine Art (Marine Series 4).

 

 

 

Chantry Classics postcard CC/S5 of Norsea.

Photo: © Tom Chantry.

 

 

 

Official oversized P&O North Sea Ferries postcard of Norsea.

 

 

 

Mariner Cards issue MA02 of Norsea in initial P&O North Sea Ferries colours.

Photo: © Hilton Davis.

 

 

 

Official P&O Ferries postcard TE/1/6095Yo of Pride of York.

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

 

Photograph of Pride of York in 2004.

Photo: © Cees de Bijl.

 

 

 

Photograph of Pride of York in 2004.

Photo: © Cees de Bijl.

 

 

 

Photograph of Pride of York.

Photo: © IW.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norsun (North Sea Ferries: 1987-2003)

Pride of Bruges (P&O: 2003- )

 

Norsun was built in 1987 by NKK, Tsurumi, Japan, for North Sea Ferries (Nedlloyd). She entered service between Hull-Rotterdam. Following internal rebuilding, Norsun transferred to the Hull-Zeebrugge service in 2002, receiving P&O Ferries livery at the same time. In 2003 Norsun was renamed Pride of Bruges, and received the revised P&O colours.

 

Official North Sea Ferries postcard issued to cover both sisters Norsun and Norsea - the ship shown is actually Norsea.

Published J.Arthur Dixon L6/SP.9532.

 

 

 

Official North Sea Ferries postcard of Norsun.

Published by Marine Art (Marine Series 3).

 

 

 

Dennis postcard H.010069L of Norstar at Hull.

 

 

 

Chantry Classics postcard CC/S14 of Norsun.

Photo: Tom Chantry.

 

 

 

Rotterdamse Scheepvaart Boekhandel postcard B23 of Norsun.

Photo: B.D.v.d.Zwan

 

 

 

A limited edition real photographic card by Hilton Davis.

 

 

 

Official oversized P&O North Sea Ferries postcard of Norsun.

 

 

 

Simplon Postcards release sp2165 of Norsun,

Newly refurbished North Sea Ferries giant transferred to the Hull-Zeebrugge route.

Photo: Mike Louagie.

 

 

 

P&O company postcard of Pride of Bruges.

Card supplied by Julie Shackleton

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

 

Photograph of Pride of Bruges.

Photo: © IW.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norcape (2)

(North Sea Ferries: 1988- )

 

Norcape (2) was built in 1979 by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, Tamano, Japan for P&O Ferries. Her intended name was Puma, but she was chartered to B&I Line for the joint B&I/Pandoro Liverpool-Dublin service and named Tipperary. Her sistership was Norsea (1). In 1988 she was sold to Norcape Shipping B.V., Rotterdam, Holland, and renamed Norcape for service with North Sea Ferries between Europort-Ipswich. In 1995 she switched to Zeebrugge-Hull. In 1996 registered owners became P&O North Sea Ferries. Following the withdrawal of the Ferryways service from Tilbury to Ostend on their takeover by Cobelfret, P&O intruduced a new Tilbury-Zeebrugge route. Initially served by the Calibur and Hoburgen, the latter was replaced by Norcape in May 2008.

 

Complete history of Norcape (2)

 

 

Simplon Postcards sp1107 (issued July 1992) of Norcape, photographed by Wil Moojen.

 

 

 

Chantry Classics CC/S249 of Norcape, photographed by Dieter Streich.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norqueen (North Sea Ferries: 1991- )

Norking (North Sea Ferries: 1991- )

 

IMO number : 7902635
Name of ship : NORKING
Call Sign : OIKP
Gross tonnage : 17884
Type of ship : Ro-Ro Cargo Ship
Year of build : 1980
Flag : Finland

 

Norqueen and Norking were built in 1990 by Rauma Repola Oy, Rauma, Finland for Oy Bore Line Ab as the Bore Queen and Bore King. Bore Queen was briefly chartered to North Sea Ferries B.V., Rozenburg in 1982/83. However, both sisters were long term chartered to North Sea Ferries from 1991, and soon received the names Norqueen and Norking. Norking was transferred to the Tilbury-Zeebrugge route in October 2008, replacing Hoburgen.

 

Simplon Postcards sp1108 (issued July 1992) of Norqueen.

Photographed by Ian Boyle at Zeebrugge, April 1992.

 

 

 

Norking outbound from Tilbury Docks for Zeebrugge
Photo: © Ken Smith, Gravesend, October 18th 2008

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

 

Norking outbound from Tilbury Docks for Zeebrugge
Photo: © Ken Smith, Gravesend, October 18th 2008

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norbank (North Sea Ferries: 1993- )

Norbay (North Sea Ferries: 1994- )

 

Norbank and Norbay were built in 1993/4 by Van der Giessen-De Noord, Holland for North Sea Ferries Hull-Rotterdam services. In 2002, Norbank transferred to Felixstowe-Rotterdam. In 2002, both sisters moved to the Irish Sea.

 

 

Ferry Publications 808 of Norbank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norsky (3)

(North Sea Ferries: 1999- )

 

Norsky (3) was built in 1999 by Aker Finnyards, Rauma, Finland for Bore Sky B.V., Rotterdam, Holland. From delivery, she was chartered to P&O North Sea Ferries, running between Middlesbrough-Zeebrugge.

 

Official Aker Finnyards, builders' postcard of Norsky (3).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pride of Hull

(P&O: 2001- )

 

Simplon Postcards release of sp2164 Pride of Hull.

New North Sea Ferries giant at builders in Venice.

Photo: © Mike Louagie.

 

 

 

P&O Ferries official oversized postcard of Pride of Hull.

It uses a modified version of the Mike Louagie image of Pride of Rotterdam in the Simplon release shown below.

 

 

 

P&O Ferries official oversized postcard of Pride of Hull.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pride of Rotterdam

(P&O: 2001- )

 

P&O postcard of Pride of Rotterdam.

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

 

Simplon Postcards release sp2163 of Pride of Rotterdam.

New North Sea Ferries giant leaving builders in Venice.

Photo: © Mike Louagie.

 

 

 

p.oostcards release F207 of Pride of Rotterdam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ursine

(Cobelfret: 2003- )

(P&O Charter 2007- )

 

 

Britta Oden was built in 1978 for Partrederi Ab Nordsjöfrakt, Skärhamn. She entered service with Oden Line between Sweden and England in 1978. In 1982 she was chartered to Tor Line, and in 1988 received an extra trailer deck. Anna Oden was renamed Tor Scandia in the same year and placed in service between Göteborg-Gent. In 1998 Tor Scandia was renamed back to Britta Oden but remained in Tor service. In 2000 she was chartered to Flota Suardiaz. In 2003 Britta Oden was sold to Cobelfret for service between Göteborg and Killingholme from 2004. In June 2005, DFDS took over the Göteborg-Killingholme service and they briefly chartered Britta Oden. From August 2005 she ran between Zeebrugge-Purfleet. From July 2006 she transferred to the old Dart Line route from Vlissingen to Dartford (just across the Thames form her previous Purfleet terminal). In 2007 she had charters to Acciona Trasmediterranea and P&O Ferries (Roterdam-Hull route).

 

Sisters are Anna Oden and Eva Oden. Eva Odden, Anna Oden and Britta Oden were renamed Equine, Vulpine and Ursine in 2006.

 

 

Ursine at Rotterdam-Europoort on charter to P&O.

Photo: © Cees de Bijl, 23rd December 2007

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

Ursine at Rotterdam-Europoort on charter to P&O.

Photo: © Cees de Bijl, 23rd December 2007

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

 

 

 

 

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