This page is part one of four. The other parts are:
Former ferries of NI Pt.2: From Atlantic Steam Navigation to P&O
Former ferries of NI Pt.4: Isle of Man Steam Packet and SeaCat
Please click on the thumbnail to view the full image along with caption and copyright information.
This page is best viewed on a computer or tablet.
In 1969 responsibility for the shipping services run by nationalised British Rail was taken away from the individual BR regions and given to the a new division called the British Rail Shipping and International Services Division. From 1970 to 1984 these services were marketed under the Sealink name. During this period the passenger only vessels traditionally used by the railway companies were gradually replaced by roll-on-roll-off vehicle and passenger ferries. However, services to Northern Ireland from Scotland had roll-on-roll-off vessels since 1948, with Larne and Stranraer being the first ports in the UK with drive on ramps.
In readiness for privatisation the ferry business was incorporated as Sealink UK Limited in 1978. This followed a decline in the traditional rail-linked passenger traffic on the ferries and the increase in both passenger and freight vehicular traffic on Sealink services. The UK Government sold Sealink UK to Sea Containers on 27 July 1984. Sea Containers rebranded the operation as Sealink British Ferries, adapting the recently adopted new Sealink livery adopted for privatisation in the process.
![PRINCESS VICTORIA. By Wrecksite (www.wrecksite.eu) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](https://aws.niferry.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/MV_princess_victoria.ferry_.jpg "Former ferries of NI Part 1: From Sealink to Stena Line")
PRINCESS VICTORIA. By Wrecksite (www.wrecksite.eu) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Sealink (British Railways) passenger/vehicle ferry ANTRIM PRINCESS makes her way along Loch Ryan, accompanied by the rising sun, with the 05.00 sailing to Larne on Saturday 9th June 1984. Copyright © Albert Bridge.
![The British Rail car ferry ANTRIM PRINCESS arriving at Larne from Stranraer. This was in the run-up to privatisation of the BR ferry and harbours division (Sealink) - the broken arrows had been removed from the funnel. Albert Bridge [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://aws.niferry.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/geograph-565895Albert-Bridge.jpg "Former ferries of NI Part 1: From Sealink to Stena Line")
The Sealink/British Rail car ferry ANTRIM PRINCESS arriving at Larne from Stranraer. This was in the run-up to privatisation of the BR ferry and harbours division (Sealink) - the broken arrows had been removed from the funnel. Albert Bridge [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
ANTRIM PRINCESS pictured at Stranraer. Copyright © Albert Bridge, licence info in photo.
Sealink's LUNE BRIDGE leaves Belfast for Heysham on the evening of July 23rd 1980. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
The veteran French S.N.C.F./Sealink ferry VILLANDRY of 1965 seen at Stranraer in 1982 when she was covering the route between June and August. The following year she spent a month on the Belfast - Heysham route. She was sold the following year and broken up in 1998. Copyright © Albert Bridge, licence info in photo.
Sealink's ST DAVID nears completion at Belfast's Harland and Wolff on 22nd July 1981. Copyright © Alan Geddes
Sealink's ST DAVID nears completion at Belfast's Harland and Wolff on 22nd July 1981. Copyright © Alan Geddes
Sealink's GALLOWAY PRINCESS was built by Harland & Wolff, in 1980, for service on the Larne – Stranraer route. She is seen arriving at Larne with the 12.00 from Stranraer. Townsend Thoresen's FREE ENTERPRISE IV can be seen (right) at the Continental Quay. GALLOWAY PRINCESS was renamed STENA GALLOWAY under Stena Line ownership. © Copyright Albert Bridge and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
The Larne - Stranraer ferry “DARNIA” was a somewhat controversial acquisition, having been acquired from Stena when new (1977) and built in Austria rather than at a UK yard. It was arranged that she would be purchased by James Fisher instead of Sealink and then chartered to Sealink, so as to reduce the amount of controversy surrounding public-owned Sealink acquiring a new ship not built in the UK. This arrangement would cost significantly more than Sealink purchasing the ship outright, and still caused significant political controversy in any case with questions asked in the House of Commons about the 'Stena ship'. In order to make “DARNIA” more suitable for the Larne to Stranraer service (as she was built to a standard Stena design) she went straight to Harland and Wolff for rebuilding when she was delivered. This rebuild included adding additional passenger accommodation to increase passenger capacity from 12 to 92, bow and stern access doors to allow double-deck loading, a new hydraulic lift to replace the 1 in 8 gradient ramp between decks, and the fitting of stabilising fins to increase passenger comfort. A further rebuild at Immingham in 1982 increased passenger capacity to 412. “DARNIA” replaced the smaller “DALRIADA”, which was also a Stena ship. She is pictured here in her original Sealink colours sometime after August 1982 when she returned from her second rebuild. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
Sealink publicity image of ST DAVID. NIFS archive
Sealink was the shipping division of then nationalised British Rail. As part of the preparations for privatisation a new livery designed by H&P associates to differentiate the operation from the British Rail corporate image was introduced on the newly acquired (on charter from Stena) ST. NICHOLAS in March 1984. On 27 July 1984 the British government sold the core passenger and vehicle ferry business of Sealink to Sea Containers for £66m. The company was renamed Sealink British Ferries and used a modified version of the new livery.
Darnia in Sealink British Ferries livery. Copyright © Neil Tierney.
Sealink British Ferries' GALLOWAY PRINCESS pictured leaving Larne in the privatised Sealink British Ferries livery during 1989. © Copyright Albert Bridge and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ .
Darnia in the Sealink British Ferries livery. Copyright © Fotoflite
Sealink British Ferries' DARNIA seen in Thomson Graving Dock, Belfast, sometime during 1986. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
![The “DARNIA” served on the Larne-Stranraer route from 1978 to 1991 until the introduction of STENA ANTRIM (former ST CHRISTOPHER) by new owners Stena Line. Albert Bridge [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://aws.niferry.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/geograph-631162-by-Albert-Bridge.jpg "Former ferries of NI Part 1: From Sealink to Stena Line")
The Sealink ferry “DARNIA” served on the Larne-Stranraer route from 1978 to 1991 until the introduction of STENA ANTRIM (former ST CHRISTOPHER) following the takeover of Sealink British Ferries by Stena Line. Albert Bridge [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
![The DARNIA awaiting departure from Larne with the (delayed) 11.30 to Stranraer on Fri 13th April 1990. She was broken up in 2007 after sailing for a number of further operators. Albert Bridge [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://aws.niferry.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/geograph-3327653-by-Albert-Bridge.jpg "Former ferries of NI Part 1: From Sealink to Stena Line")
The DARNIA awaiting departure from Larne with the (delayed) 11.30 to Stranraer on Fri 13th April 1990 in Sealink British Ferries livery. She was broken up in 2007 after sailing for a number of further operators. Albert Bridge [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
ST DAVID pictured at Larne in Sealink British Ferries livery. © Copyright Albert Bridge and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ .
ST DAVID in Sealink British Ferries colours. © Fotoflite. NIFS Archive.
Sealink British Ferries ST DAVID was a permanent addition to the Larne to Stranraer route from January 1986. Following the Stena Line takeover of Sealink British Ferries she was renamed STENA CALEDONIA. Sealink British Ferries (NIFS Archive).
EARL HAROLD is seen in dry dock at Belfast on 8th March 1986. Originally built in Italy as AILSA PRINCESS, she was delivered in 1971 for the Stranraer to Larne route. Her first decade was spent mainly on her home route, but with the arrival of more modern tonnage at Larne in the 1980's she moved around the Sealink network. Renamed EARL HAROLD in 1985 she would return to her original route on a couple of occasions before she was sold to Greek owners in 1989.
![Built on the Tyne, in 1963, as a rail ferry for the Harwich – Zeebrugge service, the “Cambridge Ferry” spent a period as relief vessel during the 1990 winter overhauls of Sealink’s Larne – Stranraer ferries. Albert Bridge [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://aws.niferry.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Cambridge-ferry_ab.jpg "Former ferries of NI Part 1: From Sealink to Stena Line")
Built on the Tyne, in 1963, as a rail ferry for the Harwich – Zeebrugge service, the CAMBRIDGE FERRY spent a period as relief vessel during the 1990 winter overhauls of Sealink British Ferries' Larne – Stranraer ferries. Albert Bridge [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Pictured here at Larne during May 1998, the SEAFREIGHT HIGHWAY was one of many relief vessels which appeared on the Larne to Stranraer run for Sealink and its successor company's over the years. At this time her normal route would have been between Dover and Zeebrugge. A ship with a varied career, she had a major rebuild 1990 having been sold by Sealink British Ferries towards the end of 1988 (in a deal that would see the ships that became FIESTA and FANTASIA come the other way) and lengthening in 2001. Now called Urd, she currently serves on the Stena Line Travemunde - Liepaja route along with STENA NORDICA. © Copyright Albert Bridge and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ .
Sealink British Ferries publicity image of ST DAVID. NIFS archive
Sealink British Ferries' ST DAVID. Although this picture is likely taken in the English Channel, this is how she would have appeared when she first joined the Larne to Stranraer route. Copyright © Fotoflite. NIFS Collection.
Sealink Stena Line publicity photograph of STENA ANTRIM. Sealink Stena Line.
In the spring of 1990 the majority of the Sealink British Ferries business was sold to Stena Line following a hostile takeover bid (the sale excluded the English Channel hovercraft and Isle of Wight services though, which Sea Containers retained). Stena would rebrand the services as first Sealink Stena Line, then Stena Sealink Line, before finally rebranding the operation as Stena Line in 1996.
Sealink Stena Line publicity photograph of STENA ANTRIM. Sealink Stena Line.
STENA ANTRIM seen in Stranraer, September 21, 1992 in Sealink Stena Line livery.
STENA GALLOWAY pictured in the transitional Sealink Stena Line livery. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
Chantry Classics postcard depicting STENA GALLOWAY in 'Sealink Stena Line' livery. Photograph Copyright © Gordon Hislip.
STENA CALEDONIA in Sealink Stena Line livery. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Hengist is pictured here during 1992 when she was the relief ship for the Larne - Stranraer winter refits. © Copyright Albert Bridge and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ .
Stena Hengist. Copyright © Gordon Hislip.
Sealink Stena Line's STENA ANTRIM is seen backing out of the Thomson Graving Dock at Harland and Wolff on March 22nd 1992. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
STENA ANTRIM arrives in Belfast, 1995, still in Stena Sealink livery. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
NORRONA was chartered by Sealink Stena Line for refit cover. Copyright © Gary Andrews.
The Smyril Line ferry NORRONA pictured arriving at Larne in 1995 whilst covering the Stena Sealink refits © Copyright Albert Bridge and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
NORRONA off Larne during her 1995 charter to Stena Sealink. Her spell on the North Channel wasn't that successful as she lacked the manoeuvrability of the regular vessels in Stranraer. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
STENA GALLOWAY leaves Larne in the short lived Stena Sealink Line livery. Copyright © Gary Andrews.
Another view of STENA ANTRIM, this time passing Ballylumford power station inbound to Larne in Stena Sealink Line livery. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
STENA GALLOWAY at Larne in Stena Sealink Line colours. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Official Stena Sealink line publicity image of STENA ANTRIM.
STENA ANTRIM seen in Belfast, May 15, 1993. She had just left Thomson Graving Dock to return to service on the Larne - Stranraer route. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
STENA GALLOWAY undertaking berthing trials in Belfast, April 5th, 1995. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
Sealink Stena Line publicity image of STENA ANTRIM. NIFS archive.
In 1996 the Sealink brand disappeared from the UK ferry scene altogether following the decision by Stena Line to operate their UK services under the Stena Line brand without reference to Sealink. In Northern Ireland the change of branding coincided with the switch of port from Larne to a new purpose-built terminal at Belfast’s Albert Quay on the site of the former P&O Ardrossan terminal. Later that year Stena introduced their revolutionary HSS fast ferry HSS STENA VOYAGER to the route in direct completion with SeaCat who operated from Belfast’s Donegall Quay to Stranraer using a much smaller InCat craft. Stena Line UK and Ireland is based at Stena House in Holyhead, having moved from the former Sealink officies in Ashford (Kent). Stena Line no longer operate from the Albert Quay terminal, with services to Heysham (freight only), Birkenhead and Cairnryan operating from Victoria Terminal 1, 2, and 4 instead.
STENA GALLOWAY departs Belfast with STENA CALEDONIA in the background. Taken on June 16th 1999. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
STENA GALLOWAY in her final livery. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
STENA GALLOWAY at her home port of Stranraer. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
STENA GALLOWAY at sea in Stena Line colours. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
STENA ANTRM laidover at Belfast. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Cambria is pictured here at Dublin in 1998 with her Stena Line funnel markings and company name painted out. She had provided refit relief (still with her Stena branding) between the end of March and beginning of May 1997 on Stena's Belfast - Stranraer and Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead routes. In 1998 she returned to Holyhead as refit relief ship (instead of Stena Caledonia which had been the planned relief), but operated to Dublin having been the final conventional vessel to operate to Dun Laoghaire the previous year. She was painted in the P&O Stena Line livery of a blue hull with red stripe and blue funnels featuring both P&O and Stena Line flags in April 1998, but retained her name instead of gathering the awkward P&OSL prefix like her fleet mates. She was sold to Spanish company UMAFISA in 1999, her blue hull paint less than a year old. Copyright © David Rimmer.
STENA CALEDONIA prepares for her next sailing to Belfast at Stranraer. Copyright © Neil Tierney
STENA CALEDONIA inbound to Belfast 17/12/07. Copyright © Michael Livie.
STENA NAVIGATOR and STENA CALEDONIA laid-up at the former Stena terminal at Albert Quay, Belfast. These ferries where the last passenger ferries built for the French and British state railway companies, SNCF and British Railways. Both continue in service in foreign waters at the time of writing (October 2015). Copyright Alan Geddes
STENA CALEDONIA and HSS STENA VOYAGER together in Belfast. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
STENA CALEDONIA goes astern in Belfast. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
STENA CALEDONIA is pictured here laid up and awaiting sale, rather appropriately in front of the Harland and Wolff building dock. She was the last ship built at the firms Musgrave Yard - the slipway from which she was launched was located just behind where she is laid up in this picture. Copyright © 2012 Neil Finlay
Taken on 16/02/2012, this photo depicts the last day STENA CALEDONIA and STENA NAVIGATOR spent together. STENA NAVIGATOR sailed for Spain and a new career with Balaeria that night. Copyright © Scott Mackey
STENA NAVIGATOR in Loch Ryan. Copyright © Gordon Hislip.
STENA NAVIGATOR at Stranraer in August 2011. Copyright © Gordon Hislip.
STENA NAVIGATOR approaches one of the ships which was to replace her, STENA SUPERFAST VII, seen here berthed at Loch Ryan Port. Ironically, Stena Navigator had been displaced on the Dover - Calais route by another Superfast VII class ship, SEAFRANCE MOLIERE, the former Superfast X and present STENA SUPERFAST X. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Navigator arriving in Belfast 03/06/2010. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
STENA NAVIGATOR. Photograph Copyright © Scott Mackey.
HSS Voyager and Stena Navigator meet in Loch Ryan. Photograph Copyright © Scott Mackey.
STENA NAVIGATOR alongside at Stranraer. Copyright © Neil Tierney
STENA NAVIGATOR. Copyright Alan Geddes.
STENA VOYAGER seen shifting berths at Belfast, February 18, 2003. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
HSS STENA VOYAGER seen in Belfast Lough on the 23rd of July 2011. Copyright © Michael Livie.
Stern view of HSS STENA VOYAGER taken in Belfast. Copyright © Neil Tierney
HSS STENA VOYAGER gets ready to depart Belfast for Stranraer, with her engines already running. Copyright © Neil Tierney
HSS STENA VOYAGER exits Loch Ryan into a summer gale during May 2011. Copyright © Gordon Hislip.
HSS STENA VOYAGER As the fastest of the fast craft which have served Northern Ireland, this was a view the competition was used to! Copyright © Scott Mackey
HSS STENA VOYAGER arriving in Belfast back in 1997. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
The withdrawn HSS STENA VOYAGER and one of the Stena Superfast's which replaced her at Belfast. Copyright © Gary Andrews.
HSS STENA VOYAGER pictured laid up at her berth at Belfast Victoria Terminal 4 and awaiting her fate. Unfortunately that fate was to be the cutters torch in Sweden. Copyright © Neal Finlay.
All 3 HSS1500 class craft in one picture! HSS STENA EXPLORER passing HSS STENA VOYAGER, which is at Harland and Wolff's ship repair quay. HSS STENA DISCOVERY is just just visible under the massive yellow "samson" crane in the background. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
Stena Leader off Larne in 2009. Copyright © Gordon Hislip.
STENA LEADER in Belfast Lough with Kilroot power station to her stern. Copyright © Michael Livie.
STENA SEAFARER seen at Larne on 26th June 2007. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
Stena Line's STENA PIONEER seen at Larne during June 2010. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
STENA PIONEER seen laid up at Donegall Quay, Belfast, on 23rd March 2010. Copyright © Michael Livie.
Stena Line's Larne - Fleetwood vessel STENA LEADER. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
STENA SEAFARER seen in Belfast on March 11th 2011. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
STENA SEAFARER seen in Belfast on 8th November 2010. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
The former DFDS freighter SCOTIA SEAWAYS in the process of becoming STENA SCOTIA at the Ship Repair Quay, Belfast. Copyright © Alan Geddes.
MERSEY SEAWAYS is seen on March 3rd 2011 with her funnel in Stena colours but with any branding yet to be added. She was renamed STENA LAGAN and repainted in full Stena Line colours in August 2011, almost a year to the day after receiving her previous name. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Mersey Seaways makes her way along Belfast Lough on another daytime sailing to Birkenhead. She is seen her with the Maersk funnel colours replaced with Stena colouring (but not yet their logo) in anticipation of the full Stena takeover of the service later that year. Sat 5/3/2011. Copyright © Steven Tarbox.
Mersey Seaways makes her way along Belfast Lough on another daytime sailing to Birkenhead. She is seen her with the Maersk funnel colours replaced with Stena colouring (but not yet their logo) in anticipation of the full Stena takeover of the service later that year. Sat 5/3/2011. Copyright © Steven Tarbox.
Although MERSEY VIKING was renamed and rebranded the previous August, MERSEY SEAWAYS had already started to lose her DFDS funnel markings early the following year. She is seen here on the 7th February 2011 at Victoria Terminal 2 with a DFDS blue funnel with no logo. By the end of 2010 DFDS had agreed to sell her route to Stena Line. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
LAGAN SEAWAYS sets out on her daytime sailing to Birkenhead on April 19th, 2011. The DFDS name has been hastily painted out on her hull and her funnel repainted in Stena Line colours. She was repainted in full Stena Line livery and renamed STENA LAGAN in August, almost a year after her previous repaint and renaming. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
LAGAN SEAWAYS pictured in 2011 after her route was taken over by Stena Line. Although not yet in Stena Line livery, the DFDS name has been painted out and the Stena funnel colours added. She would later receive another full repaint at Harland and Wolff and be renamed Stena Lagan. The blue paint in this picture was quite new as DFDS had only repainted the vessel shortly before agreeing to sell the route to Stena. © Copyright Albert Bridge and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
The above article is Copyright © Steven Tarbox, all rights reserved. All photographs are Copyright of their named Copyright holders. Unauthorised reproduction or distribution in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Sealink British Ferries, Sealink Stena Line, and Stena Sealink Line logos digitally reproduced by Steven Tarbox. The name Sealink remains a trademark of Stena and is used here for informational purposes.
With thanks to the all of the named contributors for the use of their images.
Original articles published: June 2015
Rebuilt, articles merged, updated, and moved to new location: 12 October 2017 – Feb 2018
last updated: 26/05/18
