Gone but not Forgotten Ferries

Farewell Stena Voyager – 10 years on

May 7, 2023 by Scott Mackey

STENA VOYAGER seen in Loch Ryan in 2008, taken from STENA CALEDONIA. Image: Scott Mackey.

Stena Line’s HSS concept proved to be very popular, but high fuel costs saw them axed prematurely. 10 years ago last Friday, Stena Voyager departed Belfast for the last time.

Former North Channel Ferry Emerges with New Look

January 31, 2022January 31, 2022 by Scott Mackey

MOROCCO SUN, the former GALLOWAY PRINCESS and STENA GALLOWAY of 1980, has emerged from dry dock in Gibraltar wearing a revised livery.

Remembering HSS Stena Voyager

August 19, 2018May 5, 2018 by Steven Tarbox

HSS STENA VOYAGER being towed from Belfast by the tug AGAT. Copyright © Scott Mackey.

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the final departure of HSS STENA VOYAGER from Belfast on May 5th 2013. The final departure of STENA VOYAGER followed the successful introduction of the sister-ships STENA SUPERFAST VII and STENA SUPERFAST VIII during November 2011.

Gone but not forgotten: NORSE LAGAN

March 5, 2021May 2, 2018 by Steven Tarbox

NORSE LAGAN at VT2 14 Feb 1997. Copyright © Alan Geddes

Profile of the former Belfast to Liverpool ferry NORSE LAGAN. Includes an overview of her history, technical specifications, and photographs.

Remembering the Princess Victoria disaster, 65 years on.

August 19, 2018January 31, 2018 by Steven Tarbox

PRINCESS VICTORIA. By Wrecksite (www.wrecksite.eu) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

65 years ago today, on the 31st of January 1953, the Stranraer to Larne ferry ‘Princess Victoria’ was lost during a storm while on passage to Northern Ireland.

Former Larne and Dover Ferry “European Endeavour” beached

May 21, 2019December 18, 2016 by Steven Tarbox

P&O's European Endeavour pictured leaving Larne. © Copyright Albert Bridge and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ .

The former EUROPEAN ENDEAVOUR of P&O has been beached in Alang, India. She was also known as TEF’s GARDENIA and Townsend Thoresen’s EUROPEAN ENTERPRISE.

Former Pride of Rathlin Sunk in Indonesian waters.

July 13, 2019December 31, 2015 by Steven Tarbox

PRIDE OF RATHLIN. This official photograph is actually of the vessel when she was PRIDE OF WALMER operating from Dover, with the name changed on the bow. © P&O European Ferries

KMP BSP III (former Pride of Rathlin, Pride of Walmer, Free Enterprise VII) sank at around 13:00 (local time) on 11/7/15.

The Fleetwood three – An obituary. Goodbye Buffalo, Puma, and Bison

November 16, 2019February 20, 2014 by Steven Tarbox

Pandoro's BUFFALO arrives at Fleetwood after another crossing from Larne. Photographer unknown, Bamford Postcard. NIFS archive

Ant 1, Ant 2, and Anna Marine (originally Buffalo, Union Melbourne (later Puma), and Bison) spent most of their careers together operating to Fleetwood from Larne first for Pandoro/P&O and then Stena Line between 1980 and 2011. They were also beached together during February 2014 after 39 years service.