P&O Ferries is a British shipping company that operates ferries from the United Kingdom to Ireland and Continental Europe (France, Belgium and the Netherlands). It was formed following the purchase of P&O by DP World.
P&O originally established ferry services in the United Kingdom in the late 1960s in the North Sea and the English Channel. In the late 1970s P&O was affected by a reduction in traditional shipping activities which saw the sale of a number of its businesses and assets. This continued into 1985 with the sale of its cross-channel ferry activities to European Ferries, which at the time consisted of services on the Port of Dover–Boulogne and Southampton–Le Havre routes.
In January the following year, P&O purchased a 50.01% interest in European Financial Holdings Ltd, which held 20.8% of shares in European Ferries, followed in 1987 with the purchase of the remaining shares of the European Ferries Group whose ferry services were trading as Townsend Thoresen. Following the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster in March 1987, the operations of Townsend Thoresen were renamed P&O European Ferries on 22 October 1987, with operations from Portsmouth, Felixstowe and Dover.
Following a consultation with the Competition Commission beginning 28 November 1996, P&O European Ferries split into three separate subsidiaries: P&O Portsmouth, P&O North Sea and the creation of a joint venture between P&O and the Swedish ferry company Stena Line’s UK subsidiary Stena Line (UK) Ltd to create P&O Stena Line in Dover.
In April 2002, P&O announced its intention to purchase Stena Line’s 40% share of the joint venture. The purchase was completed by August, and in October 2002 the Portsmouth and North Sea operations were merged with the Dover operations to create P&O Ferries Ltd, jointly managing all services from its head office, Channel House in Dover.
This is a list of vessels that have served with any of the subsidiaries that make up P&O Ferries.
| IMO Number | Name(s) | In Service Date | Out of Service Date | Tonnage | Passengers | Route(s) served | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6703317 | Ulster Queen | 1971 | 1982 | 4,270 | 1,008 | Sold | |
| 6710906 | Ionic Ferry | 1987 | 1992 | 6,100 | 850 | Sold | |
| 6728563 | European Freighter (1992–1993) Europic Ferry E (1987–1992) |
1987 | 1993 | 4,190 | Cairnryan-Larne | Sold to Med Link Line | |
| 7010509 | Pride of Hythe (1988–1993) Free Enterprise V E (1987–1988) |
1987 | 1993 | 5,044 | 1,132 | Sold | |
| 7204291 | Pride of Ailsa (1992–1996) Pride of Sandwich (1987–1992) Free Enterprise VI E (1987) |
1987 | 1996 | 12,503 | 1,035 | Dover-Zeebrugge Cairnryan-Larne |
Sold to El Salam Maritime. Lost 2005 |
| 7230616 | Pride of Rathlin (1992–1998) Pride of Walmer (1988–1992) Free Enterprise VII E (1987–1988) |
1987 | 2000 | 12,503 | 1,035 | Dover-Zeebrugge Cairnryan-Larne |
Sold to Sungi Budi |
| 7310260 | Saint Patrick II | 1990 | 1991 | 7,984 | 1,172 | Returned to owner. | |
| 7333822 | Norland | 1996 | 2002 | 26,290 | 1042 | Hull-Zeebrugge Hull-Rotterdam |
Sold to SNAV |
| 7358286 | Pride of Hampshire (1989–2002) Viking Venturer E (1987–1989) |
1987 | 2002 | 14,760 | 1,316 | Portsmouth-Cherbourg Portsmouth-Le Havre |
Sold to El Salam Maritime. Scrapped in 2010 |
| 7358298 | Pride of Cherbourg A (2002) Pride of Cherbourg 2 (1994–2002) Pride of Le Havre 1 (1989–1994) Viking Valiant E (1987–1989) |
1987 | 2002 | 14,760 | 1,316 | Portsmouth-Cherbourg Portsmouth-Le Havre |
Sold to El Salam Maritime. Scrapped in 2010 |
| 7358303 | Pride of Cherbourg II (1994) Pride Of Cherbourg 1 (1989–1994) Viking Voyager E (1987–1989) |
1987 | 1994 | 6,386 | 918 | Portsmouth-Cherbourg | Sold to Fred. Olsen. Scrapped in 2011 |
| 7358327 | Pride of Winchester (1989–1995) Viking Viscount E (1987–1989) |
1987 | 1995 | 6,386 | 1,100 | Portsmouth-Cherbourg | Sold to Lasithiotiki Anonymi Naftiliaki Eteria (L.A.N.E.) |
| 7360710 | Norstar | 1996 | 2001 | 26,919 | 1,042 | Hull-Zeebrugge Hull-Rotterdam |
Sold to SNAV |
| 7361570 | European Pioneer | 1975 | 2004 | 14,426 | 76 | Fleetwood-Larne | Sold to Stena Line |
| 7361582 | European Leader | 1975 | 2004 | 12,879 | 80 | Fleetwood-Larne | Sold to Stena Line |
| 7361594 | European Seafarer | 1978 | 2004 | 10,957 | 40 | Fleetwood-Larne | Sold to Stena Line |
| 7368499 | Pride of Canterbury 1 (1987–1993) Free Enterprise VIII E (1987) |
1987 | 1993 | 5,169 | 980 | Dover-Calais | Sold |
| 7383451 | Seahawk | 1996 | 1998 | 8,055 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 7389194 | Dana Hafnia | 1996 | 1996 | 5,326 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 7400273 | European Trader | 1987 | 2001 | 8,007 | 132 | Cairnryan-Larne | Sold to Taygran Shipping |
| 7411258 | European Pathfinder E (1998–2002) Panther (1996–1998) European Clearway (1987–1996) |
1987 | 2002 | 8,023 | 132 | Rosslare-Cherbourg Cairnryan-Larne |
Sold to Transeuropa Ferries |
| 7427752 | Calibur | 2007 | 2008 | 3,563 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 7501285 | European Navigator (1998–2003) Leopard (1996–1998) Viking Trader E (1987–1996) |
1987 | 2003 | 9,085 | 48 | Sold | |
| 7501613 | Argo | 1990 | 1991 | 9,079 | 205 | Short term charter, returned to owner | |
| 7521223 | Norcove | 1995 | 1999 | 10,279 | 12 | Middlesbrough-Rotterdam Middlesbrough-Zeebrugge |
Returned to owner |
| 7528570 | European Tideway (1992–2002) Doric Ferry E (1987–1992) |
1987 | 2002 | 21,162 | 166 | Felixstowe-Rotterdam | Sold to Stena Line |
| 7528635 | European Freeway (1992–2002) Cerdic Ferry E (1987–1992) |
1987 | 2002 | 21,162 | 166 | Felixstowe-Rotterdam | Sold to Stena Line |
| 7528647 | Global Carrier | 2006 | 2008 | 5,466 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 7528658 | Global Freighter | Returned to owner | |||||
| 7528659 | Pride of Flanders (1992–2002) Nordic Ferry E (1987–1992) |
1987 | 2002 | 18,732 | 688 (1987–1995) 144 (1995–2002) |
Felixstowe-Zeebrugge Felixstowe-Rotterdam |
Sold to Stena Line |
| 7528661 | European Diplomat (2001–2005) Pride of Suffolk (1992–2001) Baltic Ferry E (1987–1992) |
1987 | 2001 | 18,732 | Felixstowe-Zeebrugge Rosslare-Cherbourg |
Sold to Celtic Link Ferries | |
| 7613404 | Thomas Wehr | 1994 | 1999 | 7,628 | 12 | Portsmouth-Le Havre | Returned to owner |
| 7636092 | European Mariner (2001–2011) European Highlander (1998–2001) Lion (1995–1998) |
1995 | 2011 | 5,897 | 12 | Troon-Larne | Scrapped 2011 |
| 7708778 | European Trader | 2008 | 17,068 | 12 | Teesport-Rotterdam | In Service | |
| 7711139 | European Endeavour 1 (1987–2002) European Enterprise E (1987) |
1987 | 2002 | 22,152 | Dover-Zeebrugge Cairnryan-Larne |
Sold to Transeuropa Ferries | |
| 7712121 | Tidero Star | 1997 | 2000 | 3,894 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 7716074 | European Envoy | 1979 | 2004 | Liverpool-Dublin Mostyn-Dubin |
Sold to Trond A Kittelsen Shipping | ||
| 7716086 | Norcape | 1996 | 2011 | 14,087 | 12 | Hull-Zeebrugge Tilbury-Zeebrugge Liverpool-Dublin Troon-Larne |
Scrapped 2011 |
| 7720477 | Gabriele Wehr | 1989 | 1999 | 2,185 | 12 | Portsmouth-Le Havre | Returned to owner |
| 7724265 | Merchant Brilliant | Returned to owner | |||||
| 7725362 | Belard | 1985 | 1997 | 1,599 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 7729045 | Vega | 1997 | 1997 | 14,715 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 7800112 | Merchant Victor | 1995 | 1996 | 5,881 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 7800746 | Ursine | 2007 | 2008 | 16,947 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 7800758 | Southern Carrier | 2000 | 2000 | 16,947 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 7800760 | Equine | Returned to owner | |||||
| 7813937 | Stena Cambria | 1998 | 1999 | 7,003 | 1,400 | Newhaven-Dieppe | Sold to Umafisa |
| 7814462 | PO Canterbury (2002–2003) P&OSL Canterbury (1999–2002) Stena Fantasia (1998–1999) |
1998 | 2003 | 25,122 | 1,800 | Dover-Calais | Sold to Polferries |
| 7816496 | Rodona | 1999 | 2002 | 6,658 | 6 | Returned to owner | |
| 7816501 | Sapphire | 1999 | 2002 | 6,568 | 6 | Returned to owner | |
| 7820473 | PO Kent (2002–2003) P&OSL Kent (1999–2002) Pride of Kent 1(1987–1999) Spirit of Free Enterprise E (1987) |
1987 | 2003 | 20,466 (1992–2003) 13,601 (1987–1992) |
1,825 (1992–2003) 1,325 (1987–1992) |
Dover-Calais | Sold to GA Ferries |
| 7820497 | P&OSL Picardy (1999–2001) Pride of Bruges 1 (1988–1999) Pride of Free EnterpriseE (1987–1988) |
1987 | 2001 | 13,601 | 1,326 | Dover-Calais | Sold to Transeuropa Ferries |
| 7902635 | Norking | 1996 | 2002 | 17,884 | 12 | In Service | |
| 7902647 | Norqueen | 1996 | 2002 | 17,884 | 12 | In Service | |
| 7907257 | Pride of Provence (2003–2004) PO Provence (2002–2003) P&OSL Provence (1999–2002) Stena Empereur (1998) |
1998 | 2004 | 28,727 | 1,500 | Dover-Calais | Sold to GA Ferries, scrapped 2011 |
| 7909621 | Stena Shipper | 2004 | 2004 | 5,120 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 8009088 | Hoburgen | 2007 | 2008 | 9,080 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 8012152 | Roseanne | 1989 | 1991 | 7,744 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 8414582 | Pride of Bilbao | 1993 | 2010 | 37,799 | 2,500 | Portsmouth-Bilbao | Returned to owner after closure of route |
| 8501957 | Pride of York (2002 – 2021) Norsea (1987–2002) |
1987 | 2021 | 31,785 | 1,250 | Hull-Zeebrugge Hull-Rotterdam |
Sold to Grandi Navi Veloci |
| 8503797 | Pride of Bruges (2003 – 2021) Norsun (1987–2003) |
1987 | 2021 | 31,598 | 930 | Hull-Zeebrugge Hull-Rotterdam |
Sold to Grandi Navi Veloci |
| 8517736 | Pride of Dover (2003–2010) PO Dover (2002–2003) P&OSL Dover (1999–2002) Pride of Dover (1987–1999) |
1987 | 2010 | 26,433 | 2,290 | Dover-Calais | Scrapped |
| 8517748 | Pride of Calais (2003) PO Calais (2002–2003) P&OSL Calais (1999–2002) Pride of Calais (1987–1999) |
1987 | 26,433 | 2,290 | Dover-Calais | In service (Pending) | |
| 8712518 | Pride of Le Havre | 1994 | 2005 | 33,336 | Portsmouth-Le Havre | Returned to owner after closure of route | |
| 8712520 | Pride of Portsmouth | 1994 | 2005 | 33,336 | Portsmouth-Le Havre | Returned to owner after closure of route | |
| 8908466 | Pride of Aquitaine (2003–2005) PO Aquitaine (2002–2003) P&OSL Aquitaine (1999–2002) Stena Royal (1998–1999) |
1998 | 2005 | 28,838 | 2,000 (1999–2005) 1,350 (1998) |
Dover-Calais | Sold to LD Lines |
| 8912376 | Bore Mari | 2004 | 2005 | 5,972 | 12 | Short term charter – returned to owner | |
| 9007283 | European Seaway | 1991 | 22,986 | Dover-Calais | In Service | ||
| 9007295 | Pride of Canterbury (2003 – present) European Pathway (1992–2003) |
1992 | 30,365 (2003 – present) 22,986 (1992–2002) |
Dover-Calais | In Service | ||
| 9009633 | Celtic Star | Returned to owner | |||||
| 9015254 | Pride of Burgundy (2003 – present) PO Burgundy (2002–2003) P&OSL Burgundy (1999–2002) Pride of Burgundy (1993–1999) |
1993 | 28,138 | 1,420 | Dover-Calais | In Service | |
| 9015266 | Pride of Kent (2003 – present) European Highway (1992–2003) |
1992 | 30,365 (2003 – present) 22,986 (1992–2002) |
Dover-Calais | In Service | ||
| 9056583 | Norbank | 1993 | 17,464 | 114 | Liverpool-Dublin | In Service | |
| 9056595 | Norbay | 1994 | 17,464 | 114 | Liverpool-Dublin | In Service | |
| 9107942 | Pride of Cherbourg | 2002 | 2005 | 22,365 | 1,660 | Portsmouth-Cherbourg | Sub chartered to Interislander after closure of route |
| 9117454 | Jetliner | 1996 | 2000 | 4,563 | 577 | Cairnryan-Larne | Returned to owner |
| 9119397 | RR Triumph (2005–2006) Lehola (2005) |
2005 | 2006 | 7,606 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 9119402 | Celtic Sun | Returned to owner | |||||
| 9129598 | Tor Futura | 2004 | 2004 | 18,469 | 12 | Returned to owner | |
| 9147291 | Norman Trader | 2011 | 2011 | 22,152 | 250 | Liverpool-Dublin | Short term charter – returned to owner |
| 9147306 | Brave Merchant | 2003 | 2003 | 22,152 | 250 | Teesport-Rotterdam | Short term charter – returned to owner |
| 9170183 | SuperStar Express | 1998 | 2005 | 5,517 | 900 | Portsmouth-Cherbourg Troon/Cairnryan-Larne |
Returned to owner. |
| 9176046 | Cherbourg Express (2004) Express (2003) Portsmouth Express (2000–2002) |
2000 | 2004 | 5,902 | 900 | Portsmouth-Cherbourg Troon/Cairnryan-Larne |
In Service |
| 9176058 | Max Mols (Caen Express) | 2004 | 2004 | 5,617 | Portsmouth-Caen | Returned to owner after closure of route | |
| 9181106 | European Endeavour | 2007 | 2019 | 22,152 | 300 | Liverpool-Dublin | Sold to Eckerö Line May 2019. |
| 9186182 | Norsky | 1999 | 19,992 | 12 | Teesport-Zeebrugge | In Service | |
| 9186194 | Norstream | 1999 | 19,992 | 12 | Teesport-Zeebrugge | In Service | |
| 9208394 | European Causeway | 2000 | 20,646 | 410 | Cairnryan-Larne | In Service | |
| 9208617 | Pride of Rotterdam | 2001 | 59,925 | 1,360 | Hull-Rotterdam | In Service | |
| 9208629 | Pride of Hull | 2001 | 59,925 | 1,360 | Hull-Rotterdam | In Service | |
| 9215505 | European Ambassador | 2000 | 2004 | 24,206 | 405 | Liverpool-Dublin Mostyn-Dublin Cherbourg-Dublin |
Sold to Stena Line |
| 9244116 | European Highlander | 2002 | 21,188 | 410 | Cairnryan-Larne | In Service | |
| 9443566 | Bore Song | 2011 | 25,586 | 12 | Teesport−Zeebrugge | In Service | |
| 9524231 | Spirit of Britain | 2011 | 49,000 | 2,000 | Dover-Calais | In Service | |
| 9533816 | Spirit of France | 2012 | 49,000 | 2,000 | Dover-Calais | In Service |
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