Simplon - The Passenger Ship Website - www.simplonpc.co.uk

Simplon Home - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon facebook
- Recent Updates - Search Simplon - Copyright Information - Contact Simplon - Contact City Boats
This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation - There are no postcards for sale on this website

 

P&O Irish Sea Ferries
Fleetwood-Larne  -  Cairnryan-Larne  -  Liverpool-Dublin


Each image links to a larger copy which opens in a new window

This page is under construction!




 
This page shows postcards and images of the Irish Sea ro-ro ferry services of P&O.




 

Ships on this Page

Associated Pages

Other East Coast Pages


 



P&O Irish Sea Ferries
Pandoro:  Fleetwood-Larne

Each image links to a larger copy which opens in a new window



Bison
(Pandoro)

The Bison was one of three ships ordered by Stena Lime from J.J.Sietas KG Schiffswerke GmbH, Hamburg in 1974. They were bought by P&O before completion and became the Bison & Buffalo of new operation Pandoro running between Fleetwood and Larne. The registered owners were Hain Nourse Ltd (Belfast Steamship Co Ltd) London, part of the P&O Group. The route started in 1975. The third ship being built was chartered to the Union Steamship Co of New Zeeland and named Union Melbourne, which later became the Puma with Pandoro. Animal names were used by various Coast Lines companies before and after they became part of P&O. Renamed European Pioneer in 1998 and company renamed P&O European Ferries Irish Sea.

In 2004 the Fleetwood-Larne route was sold to Stena Line and European Pioneer was renamed Stena Pioneer in April. Stena decided to close the Fleetwood route since new tonnage was required and the restricted access at Fleetwood prevented using more larger, more economical ships. Her last day of services was 23rd December 2010 after which she was laid up in Belfast. She was sold to a Russian company in May 2011. Named Ant 1 she began service for Anrusstrans between Zonguldak - Kavkaz in 2012 under the Moldavian flag.





Photos of Bison and Mona's Queen at Fleetwood
Photo: ©1978 Ian Boyle

BISON - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1978 Ian BoyleBISON - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1978 Ian Boyle




Photos of Bison  leaving Fleetwood
Photo: ©1978 Ian Boyle

BISON - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1978 Ian BoyleBISON - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1978 Ian BoyleBISON - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1978 Ian Boyle




 Bison as Ant 1 in service with Anrusstrans
Photo: ©Anrusstrans

ANT 1 - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©Anrusstrans








Buffalo
(Pandoro)

The Buffalo was one of three ships ordered by Stena Lime from J.J.Sietas KG Schiffswerke GmbH, Hamburg in 1974. They were bought by P&O before completion and became the Bison & Buffalo of new operation Pandoro running between Fleetwood and Larne. The registered owners were Hain Nourse Ltd (Belfast Steamship Co Ltd) London, part of the P&O Group. The route started in 1975. The third ship being built was chartered to the Union Steamship Co of New Zeeland and named Union Melbourne, which later became the Puma with Pandoro. Animal names were used by various Coast Lines companies before and after they became part of P&O. Renamed European Leader in 1998 and company renamed P&O European Ferries Irish Sea.

In 2004 the Fleetwood-Larne route was sold to Stena Line and European Leader was renamed Stena Leader in April. Stena decided to close the Fleetwood route since new tonnage was required and the restricted access at Fleetwood prevented using more larger, more economical ships. Her last day of services was 17th December 2010 after which she was laid up in Belfast. She was sold to a Russian company in May 2011. Named Anna Marine she began service for Anrusstrans between Mersin - Port Said in 2012 under the Moldavian flag.


 Buffalo at Fleetwood seen from Knott End in original Pandoro livery with black hull and dark blue funnel
Photo: ©1976 Ian Boyle

BUFFALO - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1976 Ian Boyle




 Bison  arriving at Fleetwood
With pale blue funnel but no Pandoro logo yet

Photo: ©1978 Ian Boyle

BISON - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1978 Ian BoyleBISON - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1978 Ian BoyleBISON - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1978 Ian BoyleBISON - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1978 Ian BoyleBISON - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1978 Ian Boyle




 Buffalo as Anna Marine in service with Anrusstrans
Photo: ©Anrusstrans

ANNA MARINE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©Anrusstrans








Puma
(Pandoro)

The Puma was one of three ships ordered by Stena Lime from J.J.Sietas KG Schiffswerke GmbH, Hamburg in 1974. Two were bought by P&O before completion and became the Bison & Buffalo of Pandoro. The third ship being built was chartered to the Union Steamship Co of New Zeeland in 1975 and named Union Melbourne. The Union Steamship Co was another P&O Group company. In 1978 she was chartered to Pandoro and returned via Singapore where she was refitted. She entered service with P&O in November 1978. Renamed Union Trader in 1980. In September acquired by Bovis Properties, another P&O company, and she was rebuilt with additional passenger accommodation at Tyne Shiprepair Ltd. Adopting the name Puma resumed Fleetwood-Larne service in November 1980. In 1998 Puma was renamed European Seafarer and company renamed P&O European Ferries Irish Sea. She was transferred to the Rosslare-Cherbourg service in March 2001, returning to Fleetwood-Larne in January 2002.

In 2004 the Fleetwood-Larne route was sold to Stena Line and European Seafarer was renamed Stena Seafarer in May. In January 2010 she ran briefly on the Fishguard-Rosslare route then returning to Fleetwood. Stena decided to close the Fleetwood route since new tonnage was required and the restricted access at Fleetwood prevented using more larger, more economical ships. Her last day of services was 23rd December 2010 after which she was laid up in Belfast. She sailed briefly between Fishguard-Rosslare in February 2011 before sale to a Russian company in May 2011. Named Ant 2 she began service between Zonguldak - Kavkaz in 2012 under the Moldavian flag.


 Puma arriving at Fleetwood
Photo: ©1993 Ian Boyle

PUMA - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1993 Ian BoylePUMA - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1993 Ian BoylePUMA - Pandoro - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©1993 Ian Boyle




 Puma as Ant 2 in service with Anrusstrans
Photo: ©Anrusstrans

ANT 2 - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: ©Anrusstrans





















Ocean Liner Society - www.ocean-liner-society.comCarmania Press - Quality Passenger Shipping Books -  www.carmaniapress.co.ukThe Liquid Highway - River Thames Website - www.riverthames.co.nrOverview Press - www.overviewpress.co.uk - Specialist Passenger Shipping BooksShipmania - shipmania.jimdo.comShips in Focus - Quality Maritime History Books -  shipsinfocus.comkships blog - Kalle Id - kships.blogspot.co.ukMike Louagie - Fantastic Maritime Photographer - www.louagie.beBruce Peter's Blog - brucepeter.blogspot.co.ukWillem Johan Hoendervanger - Superb Maritime Paintings - www.wjmaritiem.nlARTENAUTICA Ship Models - www.stores.ebay.co.uk/Artenautica-Shop-ShipCOASTAL CRUISING ASSOCIATION - www.cruisingmonthly.comMaritime Photographic - Superb Shipping Photography - www.maritimephotographic.co.ukNATIONAL HISTORIC SHIPS REGISTER - www.nationalhistoricships.org.ukWehrmacht History - www.wehrmacht-history.com - Technical DirectoryMaritime Memories Netherlands - maritimememories.nWORLD SHIP SOCIETY - worldshipsociety.orgShippax - Ship Information, Databases, Publications, Magazines - www.shippax.seNautiques - Your gateway to the rich past of ocean liner nautical antiques - www.nautiques.netMarius Bar - Historic and new photos from long established French photographers - www.mariusbar-photo.comHarold Jordan - New and Old Shipping Postcards for Sale - www.hjcards.co.ukPADDLE STEAMERS - A Unique Heritage - www.heritagesteamers.co.ukMaritime Timetable Images - www.timetableimages.comDonAnd Maritime - www.donandmaritime.com - Cruise & Ferry News and CollectablesSeapixonline - Image GalleryGORDON HISLIP - Irish Sea Photography - www.gordonhislip.comOld and New Postcards for Sale - www.raeth.chJOHN EAGLE PHOTOGRAPHY - johneaglephotograpy.comShips Monthly - Shipping Magazine - www.shipsmonthly.comRisawoleska - 1:1250 Ship Models - www.risawoleska.comMaritime Images - Poole Images - www.maritimeimages.co.ukROBERT FORSYTHE - Transport & Industrial Heritage, History & ConsultancyP&O HERITAGE - Official P&O Heritage Website - www.poheritage.comFerry Publications - www.ferrypubs.co.uk - Leading European Publisher of Ferry BooksMaritime Matters - www.maritimematters.com

Simplon Home Page - The Passenger Ship Website - www.simplonpc.cco.uk


©1999-2013 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards (all pages on web site)
All Rights Reserved