Townsend-Thoresen Ferries Postcards 1968-74


Passenger Ferries 1968-1974


This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the passenger ferries of Townsend-Thoresen transferred from the separate Townsend and Thoresen fleets, and new ships delivered before 1974. This consists of Viking I-III, and Free Enterprise I-VIII. Later deliveries from 1975 are shown on this link. Freight ferries, and ships with limited passenger accommodation are shown on the Townsend Thoresen Freight Ferries page. 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.

Townsend-Thoresen was formed in 1968 when Townsend Brothers Ferries combined with Thoresen Car Ferries. The company was acquired by P&O Ferries in 1987. This page only shows postcards in Townsend-Thoresen colours - the earlier history of ships acquired at the amalgamation are shown on the Townsend Brothers Ferries and Thoresen Car Ferries pages.


Ships on This Page (1968-1974):-
Free Enterprise I (1968-80)
Free Enterprise II (1968-80)
Free Enterprise III (1968-84)
Free Enterprise IV (1969-1987)
Free Enterprise V (1970-1987)
Free Enterprise VI (1972-1987)
Free Enterprise VII (1973-1987)
Free Enterprise VIII (1974-1987)
Viking I (1968-1976) - later Viking Victory
Viking II (1968-1984)
Viking III (1968-1982)
Viking Victory (1976-1983) - ex-Viking I

Later Ships (1975-1987):-
Dragon (1985-1986) - later Ionic Ferry
Herald Of Free Enterprise (1980-1987)
Ionic Ferry (1986-1987) - ex-Dragon
Leopard (1985-1986)
Pride Of Dover (1987)
Pride Of Free Enterprise (1980-1987)
Panther (1985-1986)
Spirit Of Free Enterprise (1979-1987)
Tiger (1985-1986)
Viking Valiant (1975-1987)
Viking Venturer (1975-1987)
Viking Victory (1976-1983)
Viking Viscount (1976-1987) Viking Voyager (1976-1987)

Associated Pages:-
Townsend Thoresen 1975-87
Townsend Thoresen Freight Ferries
P&O Ferries
Thoresen Car Ferries
Townsend Brothers Ferries
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page

References:-


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powered by FreeFind Table of Ship History Pages Name Other names Built Dragon Ionic Ferry, Viscountess/Charm M, Millenium Express II 1967 Free Enterprise Free Enterprise I, Kimolos, Ergina, Methodia II, Kallisti 1962 Free Enterprise I Free Enterprise, Kimolos, Ergina, Methodia II, Kallisti 1962 Free Enterprise II Moby Blu 1965 Free Enterprise III Tamira, Mona's Isle, Al Fahad 1966 Free Enterprise IV Falster Link, Tag Al Salam 1969 Free Enterprise V Pride of Hythe, Laburnum, Tagla 1970 Free Enterprise VI Pride of Sandwich, Pride of Ailsa, Pride of Al Salam 95 1972 Free Enterprise VII Pride of Walmer, Pride of Rathlin, BSP III 1973 Free Enterprise VIII Pride of Canterbury, Romilda 1974 Ionic Ferry Dragon, Viscountess/Charm M, Millenium Express II 1967 Leopard Countess M, Dimitra A, Mega I, Talya I 1967 Panther Djursland, Lasse, Lasse II, St Sunniva, Faye 1972 Tiger Kattegat (II), Ålandsfärjan 1972 Viking I Viking Victory, European Glory, Neptunia, Media II 1964 Viking II Earl William, Pearl William 1964 Viking III Terje Vigen, Scandinavia, Fenno Star, Sandefjord 1965 Viking Valiant Pride of Le Havre, Pride of Cherbourg (2), Pride of Al Salam 1 1975 Viking Venturer Pride of Hampshire, Pride of El Salam 2 1975 Viking Victory Viking I, European Glory, Neptunia, Media II 1964 Viking Viscount Pride of Winchester, Vitsentzos Kornaros 1976 Viking Voyager Pride of Cherbourg (1), Bañaderos, Barlovento 1976






Townsend-Thoresen
Fleet List - 1969-1974



Free Enterprise I
(Townsend-Thoresen: 1968-80)

Free Enterprise was built in 1962 by I.C.H. Holland, Werf Gusto Yard, Schiedam, Holland, for Townsend Brothers Ferries' Dover-Calais service. She was renamed Free Enterprise I on delivery of Free Enterprise II. In 1968, ownership passed to Townsend Thoresen. During 1975 and 1976 she spent time on the Cairnryan-Larne route. In 1980 Free Enterprise I was sold to Ventouris as the Kimolos, subsequently receiving the names Ergina, Ventouris and Methodia II. In 1997 she was sold to Sinderella NE, Piraeus, and renamed Kallisti. She was used during the summer on cruises between Crete-Santorini, and in winter between Lavrio-Tinos-Mykonos.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Photograph of Free Enterprise I (in original Townsend Thoresen colours).
Photo: Christophe Bonvarlet - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg



Enlarged image from Mage postcard 5622/41 of Free Enterprise I (in original Townsend Thoresen colours).



Enlarged image from Mage postcard 622/53 of Free Enterprise I (in later Townsend Thoresen colours).



Duncan postcard of Free Enterprise I.



Unidentified postcard of Free Enterprise I on Larne-Cairnryan service.






Free Enterprise II
(Townsend-Thoresen: 1968-82)

Free Enterprise II was built in 1966 by I.C.H. Holland, Werf Gusto Yard, Schiedam, Holland, for Townsend Brothers Ferries' Dover-Calais service. From 1966 she also operated Dover-Zeebrugge. In 1968, ownership passed to Townsend Thoresen. Between 1970 and 1974 Free Enterprise II served on the Southampton-Cherbourg route during the summers. Final service at Dover was in the spring of 1980, after which she had a charter to Sealink. She spent the summer on Portsmouth-Cherbourg before being laid up in Southampton. She was sold in 1982 She was then sold to become the first large ferry in the NAVARMA/Moby fleet as Moby Blu. Moby Blu introduced the distinctive livery and naming system to the Moby fleet. NAVARMA originally used her on routes to Corsica, but in recent years Moby Blu has served on the Piombino-Elba route. She was sold for breaking up in India in 2004.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Official postcard of Free Enterprise II (in original Townsend Thoresen colours).



Duncan postcard of Free Enterprise II (in Townsend Thoresen orange).






Free Enterprise III
(Townsend-Thoresen: 1968-84)

Free Enterprise III was built in 1966 by I.C.H. Holland, Werf Gusto Yard, Schiedam, Holland, for Townsend Brothers Ferries' Dover-Calais service. From 1967 Free Enterprise III also operated Dover-Zeebrugge. In 1968, ownership passed to Townsend Thoresen. During summer 1974, she spent time on the Cainryan-Larne route. In summer 1981, Free Enterprise III operated between Portsmouth-Cherbourg. She was sold in 1984 to Maltese owners as the Tamira, but returned to UK waters later the same year as the Mona's Isle of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. After rebuilding with additional accommodation, she entered service between Heysham-Douglas in April 1985, but was not a success. Laid up in October 1985, she was sold to Egyptian owners in 1986 as the Al Fahad. She was wrecked in early 2004, near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Photograph of Free Enterprise III in Townsend Thoresen orange.
Photo: © Andrew James.






Viking I (1968-1976)
Viking Victory (1976-1983)

Viking I was built in 1964 by Kaldnes Mekaniske Verksted A/S, Tönsberg, Norway, for Otto Thoresen for service between Southampton and Cherbourg. During the winters of 1965/6, she was chartered to Atlantic Steam Navigation for services from Tilbury or Felixstowe to Rotterdam and Antwerp. In 1968, Thoresen merged with Townsend to form Townsend Thoresen Car Ferries. She worked regular charters for other companies such as TT-Line, Lion Ferry, Silja Line, Stena Line etc. In 1976 she was renamed Viking Victory and initiated a new service from Portsmouth to Le Havre/Cherbourg. Other services from Southampton subsequently moved to Portsmouth.

In 1983 Viking Victory was sold to Cypriot owners and served under various owners as Sun Boat, Caravan, Vasmed, Sunny Boat and European Glory until 1991 when she was chartered by Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (HML) and renamed Neptunia. In Neptunia 1992 was bought by Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (HML) and renamed Media II. She ran on service Patras-Igoumenitsa-Korfu-Brindisi. In 2002 she was sold to Mediterranean Freedom Marine, Limassol and renamed Media V for a service between Italy and Albania.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Photo Precision postcard C6413 of Viking I.



FotoFlite photograph of Viking I.



Le Goubey postcard 10158 of Viking Victory at Cherbourg.






Viking II (1968-1984)

Viking II was built in 1964 by Kaldnes Mekaniske Verksted A/S, Tönsberg, Norway, for Otto Thoresen for service between Southampton and Cherbourg. During the winter of 1965, she was chartered to Atlantic Steam Navigation for services from Tilbury to Rotterdam and Antwerp. In 1968, Thoresen merged with Townsend to form Townsend Thoresen Car Ferries. She worked regular charters for other companies such as Lion Ferry and Stena Line etc. In 1976 Viking II was sold to Sealink British Rail and renamed Earl William for services from Portsmouth and Weymouth to the Channel Islands and Cherbourg. In 1984, Sealink ownership passed to Sea Containers. In 1988 Earl William opened a new, but short-lived, service from Liverpool to Dun Laoghaire. She was laid up in 1990, but reappeared for occasional use on Folkestone-Boulogne and Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire. In 1992 she was sold to Neptunus Lines and renamed Pearl William. She subsequently served as Mar-Julia, Cesme Stern and Windward II.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Official Townsend Thoresen generic Viking card (actually Viking II).
Published by Photo Precision, serial R3421.
Purchased on Viking Victory, Portsmouth-Cherbourg, 15th August 1981.



Cromo postcard 106/6 of Viking II leaving Zeebrugge for Felixstowe.






Viking III (1968-1982)

Viking III was built in 1965 by Orenstein-Koppel und Lübecker Mach A/G, Lübeck, for Otto Thoresen for service between Southampton to Cherbourg/Le Havre. During the winter of 1965, Viking III was chartered to Atlantic Steam Navigation for services from Tilbury to Rotterdam and Antwerp. In 1968, Thoresen merged with Townsend to form Townsend Thoresen Car Ferries. Viking III worked regular charters for other companies such as Lion Ferry , Fred Olsen, Larvik Lines, Sealink and Stena Line etc. In 1982 Viking III was sold to Da-No Linjen for service between Frederikstad-Frederikshavn as the Terje Vigen. She passed through various other Scandinavian owners as Scandinavia until spending 1990/91 with Vasabåtarna and Jakob Lines as Fenno Star. In 1992, Fenno Star was sold to Scandi Line as the Sandefjord, running between Sandefjord-Strömstad. Scandi Line became part of Larvik Line in 1994, and then Color Line in 1999. In 2003 Sandefjord was sold to Saga Linie and adopted the name Sagafjord for a service Moss-Skagen. Although repainted in Saga Line colours, the service did not start in 2003. The service eventually began in May 2004, but closed at the end of the summer, with Sagafjord being laid up in Horten.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Yvon postcard 10/10457 of Viking III leaving Le Havre.





Free Enterprise IV (1969-1987)

Free Enterprise IV was built in 1969 by I.C.H. Holland, Werf Gusto Yard, Schiedam, Holland for the European Ferries Group. Although delivered after the formation of Townsend Thoresen, she originally operated in standard Townsend colours. She was used on Townsend Thoresen services out of Dover to Calais, Zeebrugge and Boulogne. Free Enterprise IV was the first of five sisterships, the others being Free Enterprise V-VIII. In 1976 Free Enterprise IV was transferred to the Cairnryan-Larne route, remaining there until 1986 when she reverted back to Dover. In 1987 Free Enterprise IV was laid up at Chatham until sale to Sea-Link Rederi Ab the following year. After rebuilding at Landskrona, she entered service for GT-Link between Gedser-Travemünde as the Falster Link. From 1990, the German port was changed to Rostock. In 1991, registered owners became Europa Linien A/S, Gedser. Falster Link was laid up in 1996, but served briefly for Scandlines between Gedser-Rostock in 1997. In 1998 Falster Link was sold to El Salam Shipping & Trading, Cairo, entering service as the Tag Al Salam.
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Bennett postcard 2221 of Free Enterprise IV in original pale green Townsend colours.



Photograph of Free Enterprise IV in original pale green Townsend colours.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise IV in original colours but with Townsend Thoresen logos.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Official postcard (Photo Precision R7316) of Free Enterprise IV in Townsend Thoresen orange.
This card was issued when she was on the Larne-Cairnryan route, and was bought on board on the 12:00 sailing on 1st September
1983. I returned on Europic Ferry at 20:00. Day trip fare was £8.60 and a steak in Europic Ferry's restaurant cost £6.90.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise IV in Townsend Thoresen orange with later white funnel logo.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise IV in Townsend Thoresen orange and P&O funnel.
Photo: © FotoFlite.






Free Enterprise V (1970-1987)

Free Enterprise V was built in 1970 by I.C.H. Holland, Werf Gusto Yard, Schiedam, Holland for the European Ferries Group. Although delivered after the formation of Townsend Thoresen, she originally operated in standard Townsend colours. She was used on Townsend Thoresen services out of Dover to Calais, Zeebrugge and Boulogne. Free Enterprise V was the second of five sisterships, named Free Enterprise IV-VIII. In 1982 Free Enterprise V was transferred to the Portsmouth-Cherbourg route route, remaining there until 1987 when she reverted back to Dover. In December 1987, registered owners of Free Enterprise V became P&O European Ferries, and she was renamed Pride of Hythe the following year. She worked the Dover-Boulogne route until 1993, when she was sold to Trans Europe Ferries (TEF) as the Laburnum. Laburnum operated for TEF and various charterers on Mediterranean routes and TEF's Oostende-Ramsgate freight service until 2003, when she was chartered to Comanov, who renamed her Tadla.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Official postcard of Free Enterprise V, as originally delivered in Townsend colours.
The ship is actually Free Enterprise IV - I do not know if the card was also issued as Free Enterprise IV.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise V in original Townsend colours.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



IRIS postcard of Free Enterprise V, at Zeebrugge.



Van Mieghem (Oostende) postcard of Free Enterprise V, at Zeebrugge.



Photograph of Free Enterprise V, in short-lived blue/green Townsend Thoresen colours (used 1974-76).
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Artaud postcard XR153 of Free Enterprise V, at Calais.



Photograph of Free Enterprise V, in Townsend Thoresen orange and early red funnel logo.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Simplon Postcards release of Free Enterprise V, in orange Townsend Thoresen colours and early red funnel logo.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Portsmouth.



Photograph of Free Enterprise V, in Townsend Thoresen orange and later white funnel logo.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise V in Townsend Thoresen orange and P&O funnel.
Photo: © FotoFlite.






Free Enterprise VI (1972-1987)

Free Enterprise VI was built in 1972 by I.C.H. Holland, Werf Gusto Yard, Schiedam, Holland for the European Ferries Group. She was used on Townsend Thoresen services out of Dover to Calais, Zeebrugge and Boulogne. Free Enterprise VI was the third of five sisterships, which were initially named Free Enterprise IV-VIII. In 1985 Free Enterprise VI was rebuilt by Schichau-Werft AG, Bremerhaven with an additional freight deck. The resulting design was one of the ugliest in history. In December 1987, registered owners of Free Enterprise VI became P&O European Ferries, and she was renamed Pride of Sandwich the following year. She worked the Dover-Zeebrugge route until 1992, when she was transferred to the Cairnryan-Larne route and renamed Pride of Ailsa. In 1996 she was sold to Egyptian owners and renamed Pride of Al Salam 95 for service between Suez-Jeddah.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Official postcard of Free Enterprise V, as delivered in Townsend Thoresen colours.
Photo Precision R3980.



Photograph of Free Enterprise VI, in Townsend Thoresen orange and early red funnel logo.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise VI, in Townsend Thoresen orange and later white funnel logo.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise VI, as rebuilt, in Townsend Thoresen orange and white funnel logo.
Photo: © FotoFlite.






Free Enterprise VII (1973-1987)

Free Enterprise VII was built in 1973 by I.C.H. Holland, Werf Gusto Yard, Schiedam, Holland for the European Ferries Group. She was used on Townsend Thoresen services out of Dover to Calais, Zeebrugge and Boulogne. Free Enterprise VII was the fourth of five sisterships, which were initially named Free Enterprise IV-VIII. In 1985 Free Enterprise VII was rebuilt by Schichau-Werft AG, Bremerhaven with an additional freight deck. The resulting design was one of the ugliest in history. In December 1987, registered owners of Free Enterprise VII became P&O European Ferries, and she was renamed Pride of Walmer the following year. She worked the Dover-Zeebrugge route until 1992, when she was transferred to the Cairnryan-Larne route and renamed Pride of Rathlin. In 1996 she was sold to Indonesian owners and renamed BSP III.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Photograph of Free Enterprise V in original light green, and Townsend Thoresen logos.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise VII, in Townsend Thoresen orange and later white funnel logo.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise VII, as rebuilt, in Townsend Thoresen orange and white funnel logo.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise VII, as rebuilt, in Townsend Thoresen orange and P&O funnel colours.
Photo: © FotoFlite.






Free Enterprise VIII (1974-1987)

Free Enterprise VIII was built in 1974 by Verolme Scheepswerf BV, Alblasserdam, Holland, for the European Ferries Group. She was used on Townsend Thoresen services out of Dover to Zeebrugge. Free Enterprise VIII was the last of five sisterships, which were initially named Free Enterprise IV-VIII. In December 1987, registered owners of Free Enterprise VII became P&O European Ferries, and she was renamed Pride of Canterbury the following year. She worked the Dover-Boulogne route until 1993, when she was sold to GA Ferries, Piraeus, and renamed Romilda.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Photograph of Free Enterprise VIII, in short-lived blue/green Townsend Thoresen colours (used 1974-76). Free Enterprise VIII was the only sister delivered too late to receive the pale green hull.



Enlarged image from Cromo postcard 106/5 of Free Enterprise VIII.



Official Townsend Thoresen postcard of Free Enterprise VIII.
Photo Precision R5993.



Photograph of Free Enterprise VIII, in Townsend Thoresen orange and early red funnel logo.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise VIII, in Townsend Thoresen orange and later white funnel logo.
Photo: © FotoFlite.



Photograph of Free Enterprise VIII, in Townsend Thoresen orange and P&O funnel colours.
Photo: © FotoFlite.






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Name	Other names	Built
Dragon	Ionic Ferry, Viscountess/Charm M, Millenium Express II	1967
Free Enterprise	Free Enterprise I, Kimolos, Ergina, Methodia II, Kallisti	1962
Free Enterprise I	Free Enterprise, Kimolos, Ergina, Methodia II, Kallisti	1962
Free Enterprise II	Moby Blu	1965
Free Enterprise III	Tamira, Mona's Isle, Al Fahad	1966
Free Enterprise IV	Falster Link, Tag Al Salam	1969
Free Enterprise V	Pride of Hythe, Laburnum, Tagla	1970
Free Enterprise VI	Pride of Sandwich, Pride of Ailsa, Pride of Al Salam 95	1972
Free Enterprise VII	Pride of Walmer, Pride of Rathlin, BSP III	1973
Free Enterprise VIII	Pride of Canterbury, Romilda	1974
Ionic Ferry	Dragon, Viscountess/Charm M, Millenium Express II	1967
Leopard	Countess M, Dimitra A, Mega I, Talya I	1967
Panther	Djursland, Lasse, Lasse II, St Sunniva, Faye	1972
Tiger	Kattegat (II), Ålandsfärjan	1972
Viking I	Viking Victory, European Glory, Neptunia, Media II	1964
Viking II	Earl William, Pearl William	1964
Viking III	Terje Vigen, Scandinavia, Fenno Star, Sandefjord	1965
Viking Valiant	Pride of Le Havre, Pride of Cherbourg (2), Pride of Al Salam 1	1975
Viking Venturer	Pride of Hampshire, Pride of El Salam 2	1975
Viking Victory	Viking I, European Glory, Neptunia, Media II	1964
Viking Viscount	Pride of Winchester, Vitsentzos Kornaros	1976
Viking Voyager	Pride of Cherbourg (1), Bañaderos, Barlovento	1976