Notes from the Larne Ferry Web Archive

Larne - Cairnryan mainstay and stalwart for 8 years, the Pride of Rathlin finally bowed out of active service for P&O with the 2130 service from Larne on the 11th of September 2000. Her final sailing arrived at Cairnryan around 2345 and with her passenger certificate expiring at midnight that evening she really had served Larne so well right to the very end.

The ship returned light ship to Larne overnight and anchored off shore before coming into Continental quay to complete destoring once the European Pioneer had left the berth for Fleetwood. She left Larne for the final time with her P&O markings intact at 1100 on the 12th of September 2000 under the command of Captain Morris Austin, who had transferred from the European Seafarer back on to his old ship for her final few days of service. The weather fitted the mood of the occassion - damp drizzle - and on her way out her horn sounded loud over the port she had served since 1992. In bound on the European Navigator from Cairnryan another former master of the Pride of Rathlin, Captain Paddy McAlinden, sent his old ship on her way with several hooter blasts from the European Navigator.

After leaving Larne the Pride of Rathlin headed round to Belfast for lay up pending sale, the ship was to visit Larne one more time after the 12th of September 2000, but that's another story.......

12th September 2000: Dressed with flags on her main mast the Pride of Rathlin gets steam up to sail from Larne for lay up for the last time under the P&O flag. Photo: LFW (and not one of my best either I'm sorry to say)

Larne Harbour hit rock bottom on the 5th of September 1995 when Stena Sealink Line ended months of speculation by announcing their intentions to withdraw the Stranraer ferry service from Larne and transfer it to Belfast instead.

The three conventional ferries currently engaged on the Larne service, Stena Antrim, Stena Caledonia and Stena Galloway would transfer to Belfast in November offering a 3½ hour crossing time instead of 2¼ hours from Larne. New for the summer of 1996 would be the fast ferry Stena Voyager, the second HSS 1500 craft to be constructed for the company which would replace the Stena Antrim.

The Stena Galloway pictured leaving Larne for Stranraer in 1995, it was the last year she would sail from the port as September 1995 saw Stena Sealink Line announce their intention to transfer the Northern Irish port for the Stranraer service from Larne to Belfast. Photo: Gary Andrews

Grasping the initiative P&O lost no time in getting their Larne to Cairnryan service ready to fill the void left by Stena Sealink's withdrawal from Larne. On the 20th of September 1995 P&O announced the addition of a third vessel to the Larne to Cairnryan service in the form of the former Dover based ferry European Endeavour. Five days later, on the 25th the vessel arrived and immediately slotted into service with the Pride of Rathlin and Pride of Ailsa offering initially an extra two departures a day at 1330 and 2130 from Larne through the week and lying up at weekends.

The European Endeavour was no stranger to Larne, she had already covered P&O refits at Larne in early 1994 and again in early 1995. She was to become a highly successful ship on the route and no doubt helped persuade many freight hauliers to stay at Larne after Stena Sealink's withdrawal.

European Endeavour pictured at Dover. After a few years of being a nomad filling in at various ports where she was needed she made her permanent home at Larne in September 1995. Photo: With thanks from the Roy Thorntonn collection.

Ever since the loss of the fourth named Princess Victoria during the Great Storm of 1953 the Larne to Stranraer ferry service had to make do with the help given by the Southern Railways train ferry Hampton Ferry, which was able to provide a ro-ro service during the summer while in the winter the service returned to the neolitihic practice of craning vehicles on and off the conventional passenger and cargo ships Princess Margaret or Princess Maud.

Finally, after 8 years and much indecision the new car ferry for the route was ready. Costing £1.84 million, the Caledonian Princess, as she was named at her launch on the 5th of April 1961, left William Denny's shipyard in Dumbarton for sea trials on the 23rd of September 1961. Powered by twin steam turbines she managed a top speed of 20.8 knots in the River Clyde on the 27th of September. The new ship had capacity for 1400 passengers in two classes and 103 cars. She also had a bow thrust unit- the first such instance on an Irish Sea ferry and she was also fitted with a prototype design of folding fin stabilsers that now come as standard in most ro-ro ferries.

Eagerly anticipated at both Larne and Stranraer the new ship was to introduce a double round sailing seven days a week for cars, passengers and lorries. The sailing schedule for the new ferry was to be 0700 and 1430 ex Stranraer with 1100 and 1850 returns from Larne on a crossing time of 2¼ hours. This schedule would do away with the summer stand in duties of the Hampton Ferry on the ro-ro service and the new vessel would also take over the mail boat duties from the Princess Margaret allowing the old passenger boat to be sold.

Unfortunately as trials were nearing completion the Caledonian Princess developed problems with the gearing on the starboard turbine and she had to return to her builders for repairs. With the Hampton Ferry urgently required back at Dover to undertake overhaul duties on the train ferry service to Dunkirk the service was left to the Princess Margaret from the 2nd of October until the Caledonian Princess finally entered service after repairs on the 16th of December 1961.

The Caledonian Princess at sea in her original colours with the yellow Caledonian Steam Packet Company funnel and red lion symbol. Photo: Dougie McIntyre Collection

The Caledonian Princess became the route's saviour, in danger of being closed before she was built the route grew beyond all expectations once the new vessel entered service. Her success quickly created more traffic than she could cope with and after only two summers a second ro-ro ship was required. The "Caley P" as she became affectionately known as, was joined by the cattle and car ferry Slieve Donard for the summer of 1964, the car carrier Lohengrin in 1965 and the Stena Nordica in 1966 and 1967. For the summer of 1968 the Caledonian Princess was transferred south to Holyhead a new ship, Antrim Princess took over from the "Caley P" and continued to build on the success created by the older ship.

The Caledonian Princess' last visit to Larne was in April 1972 when she relived the 1971 built Ailsa Princess. The vessel lasted in the Sealink fleet until September 1981 when she was sold for static use as a night club. Renamed Tuxedo Princess the former Caledonian Princess is currently moored at Newcastle below the Tyne bridge but has also spent some time at Glasgow. The turntable for manoeuvring cars on her car decks in her ferry days is now a revolving dance floor.