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Fleetwood-Larne - Cairnryan-Larne -
Liverpool-Dublin
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This page is under construction!
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This page shows postcards and images of the Irish Sea
ro-ro ferry services of P&O.
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Pandoro: Fleetwood-Larne
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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
Photos of Bison leaving Fleetwood
Photo: ©1978 Ian Boyle
Bison as Ant 1 in service with
Anrusstrans
Photo: ©Anrusstrans
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
Bison arriving at Fleetwood
With pale blue funnel but no Pandoro logo yet
Photo: ©1978 Ian Boyle
Buffalo as Anna Marine in
service with Anrusstrans
Photo: ©Anrusstrans
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 as Ant 2 in service with
Anrusstrans
Photo: ©Anrusstrans
- Simplon Ship Postcards
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