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P&O Ferries
(Portsmouth Services)
 
 
This page is devoted to postcards of the Portsmouth operations of P&O 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.
 
On 28th September 2004, the following announcement was made regarding the future of P&O services out of Portsmouth (six ships reduced to one; three out of four routes closed):-
- Pride of Cherbourg (3) to be laid up or chartered out until mid-2007 when its charter expires.
- Cherbourg Express to replace the Superstar Express on the Northern Corridor of the Irish Sea.
- Caen Express to be redelivered to its owners on expiry of the current charter in October 2004.
- Pride of Portsmouth and Pride of Le Havre to be chartered out to Brittany Ferries.
- Pride of Bilbao to remain on the Portsmouth-Bilbao route - the only remaining P&O route from Portsmouth.
 
The transfer of Pride of Portsmouth and Pride of Le Havre to Brittany Ferries was delayed when the deal was referred to the Competion Commission late 2004. This was turned down, and Brittany Ferries said they no longer wished to take the ships. The P&O service continued until September 2005. The ships were sold to SNAT for service in the Mediterrainean. The Portsmouth-Bilbao route was closed in 2010, ending all P&O operations at portsmouth.
 
 
Ferries on This Page:-
Pride of Bilbao - 1993- (ex-Olympia)
Pride of Cherbourg (1) - 1989-1994 (ex-Viking Voyager)
Pride of Cherbourg (2) - 1994-2002 (ex-Viking Valiant)
Pride of Cherbourg (3) - 2002- (ex-Isle of Innisfree)
Pride of Cherbourg A - 2002 (ex-Viking Valiant)
Pride of Cherbourg II - 1994 (ex-Viking Voyager)
Pride of Hampshire - 1989-2002 (ex-Viking Venturer)
Pride of Le Havre (1) - 1989-1994 (ex-Viking Valiant)
Pride of Le Havre (2) - 1994- (ex-Olau Hollandia)
Pride of Portsmouth - 1994- (ex-Olau Britannia)
Pride of Winchester - 1989-1995 (ex-Viking Viscount)
Viking Valiant - 1987-1989
Viking Venturer - 1987-1989
Viking Viscount - 1987-1989
Viking Voyager - 1987-1989
 
Fast Ferries on This Page:-
Caen Express - P&O: 2004 (registered name: Max Mols)
Cherbourg Express - 2004- (ex-Portsmouth Express, Express)
Express - 2003 (ex-Portsmouth Express. later Cherbourg Express)
Portsmouth Express - 2000-2002 (later Express, Cherbourg Express)
Superstar Express - 1998-2000

Associated Pages:-
P&O Ferries
Brittany Ferries
Irish Ferries
Townsend Thoresen
TT Line
Viking Line
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
References:-
  
 
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Table of Ship Histories

Name

Other names

 Built
 Pride of Bilbao  Olympia

 1983
 Pride of Cherbourg (1)  Viking Voyager, Bañaderos, Barlovento

 1976
 Pride of Cherbourg (2)  Viking Valiant, Pride of Le Havre (1), Pride of Al Salam 1

 1975
 Pride of Cherbourg (3)  Isle of Innisfree

 1995
 Pride of Hampshire  Viking Venturer, Pride of El Salam 2

 1975
 Pride of Le Havre (1)  Viking Valiant, Pride of Cherbourg (2), Pride of Al Salam 1

 1975
 Pride of Le Havre (2)  Olau Hollandia (2)

 1989
 Pride of Portsmouth  Olau Britannia (2)

 1990
 Pride of Winchester  Viking Viscount, Vitsentzos Kornaros

 1976
 Viking Valiant  Pride of Le Havre (1), Pride of Cherbourg (2), Pride of Al Salam 1

 1975
 Viking Venturer  Pride of Hampshire, Pride of El Salam 2

 1975
 Viking Viscount  Pride of Winchester, Vitsentzos Kornaros

 1976
 Viking Voyager  Pride of Cherbourg (1), Bañaderos, Barlovento

 1976
 
 
 
 
 
 
P&O Portsmouth Fleet List
 
 
Viking Voyager (1987-1989)
Pride of Cherbourg (1) (1989-1994)
Pride of Cherbourg II (1994)
 
Viking Voyager was built for Townsend-Thoresen in 1976 by Aalborgs Værft A/S, Ålborg, Denmark, for service between Felixstowe-Zeebrugge. She was transferred to the South Coast in 1986 for routes from Southampton to Le Havre and Cherbourg. The UK port later transferred to Portsmouth. From 1985 Viking Voyager primarily ran to Cherbourg, when Le Havre services passed to the the two rebuilt sisterships Viking Venturer and Viking Valiant. In 1987, ownership passed to P&O European Ferries, and in 1989 she was renamed Pride of Cherbourg (1). In 1994 she was renamed Pride of Cherbourg II, releasing her name for Pride of Le Havre (1) which took her place on the Cherbourg route. Later that year she was sold to Lineas Fred.Olsen for Canary Isles services as Banaderos, and from 2000 as Barlovento.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Photograph of Viking Voyager with P&O funnel colours.
Photo: © FotoFlite.
 
 
 
official P&O European Ferries generic "Super Viking" postcard, of Viking Voyager/Viscount, issued befores renaming as Pride of Cherbourg (1)/Winchester.
J.Arthur Dixon L7/SP9845.
 
 
 
official P&O European Ferries generic "Super Viking" postcard, of Pride of Cherbourg (1)/Winchester.
Fincom Holdings X0129.
 
 
 
official P&O European Ferries postcard, of Pride of Cherbourg (1).
 
 
 
Official P&O postcard of Pride of Cherbourg (1) (with Pride of Bilbao behind).
Published by J.Arthur Dixon, serial number L7/SP11383.
 
 
 
Ferry Publications postcard 0112 of Pride of Cherbourg (1).
Photo: © Miles Cowsill.
 
 
 
Ferry Publications postcard 422 of Pride of Cherbourg (1).
Photo: © FotoFlite.
 
 
 
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S154 of Pride of Cherbourg (1) arriving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Walter Sartori.
 
 
 
ARA postcard XO23 of Pride of Cherbourg (1) leaving Portsmouth.
 
 
 
Photograph of Pride of Cherbourg II (temporarily renamed to free name for Pride of Cherbourg (2)), ex-Pride of Le Havre).
Photo: © Andreas Wörteler.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Viking Venturer (1987-1989)
Pride of Hampshire (1989-2002)
 
Viking Venturer was built for Townsend-Thoresen in 1975 by Aalborgs Værft A/S, Ålborg, Denmark, for service between Southampton and Le Havre. The UK port later transferred to Portsmouth. In 1985 Viking Venturer was substantially rebuilt with an extra vehicle deck by Schichau Unterweser AG, Bremerhaven, creating one of the ugliest ships of all time. In 1987, ownership passed to P&O European Ferries, and in 1989 she was renamed Pride of Hampshire. In 1994 her route was transferred to Portsmouth-Cherbourg, when P&O chartered the two ex-Olau ferries for Le Havre services. Pride of Hampshire was replaced by the new Pride of Cherbourg (3) (ex-Isle of Innisfree) in 2002, and was sold to El Salam Maritime as the Pride of El Salam II.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Photograph of Viking Venturer, with P&O funnel colours.
Photo: © FotoFlite.
 
 
 
Photograph of Viking Venturer, in full P&O colours.
Photo: © FotoFlite.
 
 
 
P&O official postcard of Pride of Hampshire.
 
 
 
P&O official postcard of Pride of Hampshire.
J.Arthur Dixon L7/SP11384.
 
 
 
Ferry Publications postcard 0111 of Pride of Hampshire.
Photo: © Miles Cowsill.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Viking Valiant (1987-1989)
Pride of Le Havre (1) (1989-1994)
Pride of Cherbourg (2) (1994-2002)
Pride of Cherbourg A (2002)
 
Viking Valiant was built for Townsend-Thoresen in 1975 by Aalborgs Værft A/S, Ålborg, Denmark, and initially served between Felixstowe-Zeebrugge. She was transferred to the South Coast in 1976 for routes from Southampton to Le Havre and Cherbourg. The UK port later transferred to Portsmouth. In 1985 Viking Valiant was substantially rebuilt with an extra vehicle deck by Schichau Unterweser AG, Bremerhaven, creating one of the ugliest ships of all time. In 1987, ownership passed to P&O European Ferries, and in 1989 she was renamed Pride of Le Havre. In 1994 her route was transferred to Portsmouth-Cherbourg, and she was renamed Pride of Cherbourg (2). She was replaced by the new Pride of Cherbourg (3) (ex-Isle of Innisfree) in 2002, and was briefly renamed Pride of Cherbourg A until sold to El Salam Maritime as the Pride of El Salam I.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Enlarged image from a postcard of Viking Valiant at Le Havre, with P&O funnel colours.
 
 
 
Photograph of Viking Valiant in full P&O colours.
Photo: © Fotoflite.
 
 
 
Photograph of Viking Valiant in full P&O colours.
Photo: © Fotoflite.
 
 
 
P&O official postcard of Pride of Le Havre.
 
 
 
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S153 of Pride of Le Havre departing Portsmouth.
Photo: © Walter Sartori.
 
 
 
Ferry Publications postcard 421 of Pride of Le Havre.
Photo: © FotoFlite.
 
 
 
P&O official postcard of Pride of Cherbourg (2).
J.Arthur Dixon/John Hinde L7SP4091.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Viking Viscount (1987-1989)
Pride of Winchester (1989-1995)
 
Viking Viscount was built for Townsend-Thoresen in 1976 by Aalborgs Værft A/S, Ålborg, Denmark, for service between Felixstowe-Zeebrugge. She was transferred to the South Coast in 1986 for the route from Southampton to Cherbourg. The UK port later transferred to Portsmouth. In 1987, ownership passed to P&O European Ferries, and in 1989 she was renamed Pride of Winchester. In 1989 she spent some time on the Dover-Calais route. In 1994 she was sold to Greek owners Lasithiotiki Anonymi Naftiliaki Eteria (L.A.N.E.). She was renamed Vitsentzos Kornaros, and used on the Lane Lines route Piraeus-Agios Nikolaos, Crete.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
official P&O European Ferries postcard, of Pride of Winchester.
 
 
 
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S155 of Pride of Winchester departing Portsmouth.
Photo: © Walter Sartori.
 
 
 
Ferry Publications postcard 0113 of Pride of Winchester.
Photo: © Miles Cowsill.
 
 
 
Ferry Publications postcard 423 of Pride of Winchester.
Photo: © FotoFlite.
 
 
 
ARA postcard XO24 of Pride of Winchester leaving Portsmouth.
 

 
 
 
 
Pride of Bilbao
(P&O: 1993- )
 
Pride of Bilbao was built in 1986 as the Olympia for Rederi AB Slite. In 1993 she was chartered to P&O for use between Portsmouth and Bilbao as the Pride of Bilbao. In 1994 she was purchased by the Irish Continental Group. In 2002, P&O extended their charter for a further 5 years. On 28th September 2004, it was announced that Pride of Bilbao would be the only remaining P&O ship sailing out of Portsmouth following the closure or transfer of all other routes.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Official P&O postcards of Pride of Bilbao.
Published by J.Arthur Dixon, serial number L7/SP11244.
 
 
 
Published by J.Arthur Dixon, serial number L7/SP11380.
 
 
 
Published by J.Arthur Dixon, serial number L7/SP11381.
 
 
 
Published by J.Arthur Dixon, serial number L7/SP11383.
Pride of Bilbao is in the background (with Pride of Cherbourg in front).
 
 
 
Published by John Hinde, serial number L7/SP12206.
 
 
 
Simplon Postcards sp1149 of Pride of Bilbao.
Photographed by Mike Louagie on maiden Portsmouth-Bilbao voyage 28/04/1993.
 
 
 
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S329 of Pride of Bilbao.
Photograph: © Ian Boyle, Portsmouth, 04/04/2003.
 
 
 
 
Pride of Bilbao is seen arriving Portsmouth 04/04/2003 from Bilbao.
She has the new P&O livery applied during her 2003 refit.
More photos are available on this link.
Photograph: © Ian Boyle.
 
 
 
Pride of Bilbao is seen arriving Portsmouth 04/06/2004 from Bilbao.
More photos are available on this link.
Photograph: © Ian Boyle.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pride of Le Havre
(P&O: 1994- )
 
Olau Hollandia (2) was the first of two sisters (the second being Olau Britannia (2)) built by TT-Line for their Olau Line service between Sheerness and Vlissingen. She was delivered in 1989, was 33336grt in size, and carried 1600 passengers and 575 cars. This was not significantly bigger than the ship of the same name that she replaced, although passenger facilities were considerably improved. When the Olau Line service ceased in May 1994, Olau Hollandia (II) was chartered to P&O, for use on services out of Portsmouth (primarily to Le Havre). She was renamed Pride of Le Havre, and remains on the service in 2002, running opposite sistership Pride of Portsmouth. The charter was renewed at the end of 2002. On 28th September 2004, it was announced that Pride of Le Havre was to be chartered to Brittany Ferries, along with her sister Pride of Portsmouth. However, the transfer of Pride of Portsmouth and Pride of Le Havre to Brittany Ferries was delayed when the deal was referred to the Competion Commission late 2004. This was turned down, and Brittany Ferries said they no longer wished to take the ships. The P&O service continues until September 2005.
 
A complete postcard history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Official P&O postcard of sistership Pride of Portsmouth, sold on both ships.
I include it here because it is actually Pride of Le Havre, being a retouched version of the photograph of Olau Hollandia shown above.
Postcard printed by J.Arthur Dixon (serial L7/SP11596)
 
 
 
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S334 of Pride of Le Havre.
I believe this was the first postcard showing the new livery applied during the 2003 refit.
Photograph: © Ian Boyle, Portsmouth, April 19th 2003.
 
 
 
Official P&O postcard of Pride of Le Havre.
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
 
Photograph of Pride of Le Havre was taken at Portsmouth on April 19th 2003, by Ian Boyle.
It shows the new livery applied during the 2003 refit, including the new Poferries.com web address.
More photos are available on this link.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pride of Portsmouth
(P&O: 1994- )
 
Olau Britannia (2) was the second of two sisters (the first being Olau Hollandia (2)) built by TT-Line for their Olau Line service between Sheerness and Vlissingen. She was delivered in 1990, was 33336grt in size, and carried 1600 passengers and 575 cars. This was not significantly bigger than the ship of the same name that she replaced, although passenger facilities were considerably improved. The Olau Line service ceased in May 1994, and she was chartered by TT-Line to P&O, for use on services out of Portsmouth (primarily to Le Havre). She was renamed Pride of Portsmouth, and remains on the service in 2002, running opposite sistership Pride of Le Havre. On 28th September 2004, it was announced that Pride of Portsmouth was to be chartered to Brittany Ferries, along with her sister Pride of Le Havre. However, the transfer of Pride of Portsmouth and Pride of Le Havre to Brittany Ferries was delayed when the deal was referred to the Competion Commission late 2004. This was turned down, and Brittany Ferries said they no longer wished to take the ships. The P&O service continues until September 2005.
 
A complete postcard history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Official P&O postcard of sistership Pride of Portsmouth, sold on both ships.
Postcard printed by J.Arthur Dixon (serial L7/SP11596)
The ship is actually Pride of Le Havre, being a retouched version of an official Olau Line publicity photograph of Olau Hollandia (II).
 
 
 
Simplon Postcards sp1208 (issued October 1995) of Pride of Portsmouth.
Photo by Ian Boyle at Portsmouth, August 1995.
 
 
 
Official P&O postcard of Pride of Portsmouth in new livery issued shortly before her withdrawal was announced.
 
 
 
This photograph of Pride of Portsmouth, was taken at Portsmouth, in poor weather on June 6th 2002, by Ian Boyle.
It shows the web address which was been added to the hull for the 2002 season.
 
 
 
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S335 of Pride of Portsmouth.
I believe this is the first postcard showing the new livery applied during the 2003 refit.
Photog: © Ian Boyle, Portsmouth, April 4th 2003.
 
 
 
Photograph of Pride of Portsmouth was taken at Portsmouth on April 4th 2003, by Ian Boyle.
It shows the new livery applied during the 2003 refit, including the new web address.
More photos are available on this link.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Superstar Express (P&O: 1998-2000)
 
 
Official P&O postcard of Superstar Express.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Portsmouth Express (P&O: 2000-2002)
Express (P&O: 2003)
Cherbourg Express (P&O: 2004- )
 
On 28th September 2004, it was announced that Cherbourg Express would be transferred to the Northern Corridor of the P&O Irish Sea services, following the closure of most P&O routes out of Portsmouth.
 
 
Portsmouth Express at speed near Cherbourg, seen from the Pride of Cherbourg (2).
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 05/06/2002
 
 
 
Portsmouth Express arriving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Old Portsmouth, 06/06/2002.
 
 
 
Portsmouth Express leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Old Portsmouth, 06/06/2002.
 
 
 
Portsmouth Express leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Old Portsmouth, 06/06/2002.
 
 
 
Cherbourg Express arriving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Southsea, 02/05/2004.
 
 
 
Cherbourg Express arriving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Southsea, 02/05/2004.
 
 
 
Cherbourg Express arriving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Southsea, 02/05/2004.
 
 
 
Cherbourg Express leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Gosport, 04/06/2004.
 
 
 
Cherbourg Express leaving and Pride of Bilbao arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Gosport, 04/06/2004.
 
 
 
Cherbourg Express leaving and Pride of Bilbao arriving at Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Gosport, 04/06/2004.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pride of Cherbourg (3)
(P&O: 2002- )
 
Pride of Cherbourg (3) was built for Irish Ferries as the Isle of Innisfree (2) in 1995 to operate on the Holyhead-Dublin route. She was replaced by the larger Isle of Inishmore in 1997, and then moved to the Rosslare-Pembroke Dock service. Following the arrival of the Ulysses in 2001, Isle of Innisfree was laid up and made available for sale or charter. She was chartered to P&O as Pride of Cherbourg (3) from October 2002. On 28th September 2004, it was announced that Pride of Cherbourg (3) was to be laid up or chartered out until mid-2007 when its charter expires. She closed the Portsmouth-Cherbourg route on 14th January 2005, and was sub-chartered to Stena Line for Baltic service as the Stena Challenger until 25th April, whilst Stena Baltica (ex-Koningin Beatrix) was rebuilt to increase freight capacity. There were reports in March 2005 that Pride of Cherbourg (3) would transfer to Cook Straits services in New Zealand, before the end of the year.
 
A complete postcard & photograph history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
 
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S330 of Pride of Cherbourg (3).
I believe this is the first postcard issued of Pride of Cherbourg (3).
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Portsmouth, 04/04/2003.
 
 
 
Official P&O postcard of Pride of Cherbourg (3) in new livery issued shortly before her withdrawal was announced.
 
 
 
Pride of Cherbourg (3) is seen leaving Postsmouth on 17/11/2002.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
 
 
Pride of Cherbourg is seen leaving Postsmouth on 04/04/2003. Note that the web address has been painted out on the side in preparation for the new Poferries.com address.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
 
 
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
 
 
 
Pride of Cherbourg arriving Postsmouth on 02/05/2004.
She received the new P&O colour scheme at 2004 refit.
Photo: © Ian Boyle
 
 
 
Photo: © Ian Boyle
 
 
 
Photo: © Ian Boyle
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Caen Express (P&O: 2004- )
(Max Mols)
 
Caen Express was chartered from Mols Line in the summer of 2004, to start a new P&O service between Portsmouth and Caen. This was in response to Brittany Ferries starting a rival Portsmouth-Cherbourg ferry service. On 28th September 2004, it was announced that Caen Express would be returned to her owners at the end of the 2004 season. Mols Line were experiencing an upturn in traffic, so expected to re-introduce her on their own services.
 
 
Caen Express leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Gosport, 04/06/2004.
 
 
 
Caen Express leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Gosport, 04/06/2004.
 
 
 
Caen Express leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Gosport, 04/06/2004.
 
 
 
Caen Express leaving Portsmouth.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Gosport, 04/06/2004.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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