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P & O Irish Sea Ferries

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P&O Irish Sea was formed in 1998 when two companies - P&O European from Felixstowe and Pandro Ltd. Were joined together. P&O European was based in Cairnryan and Pandoro operated routes from Adrossan and Fleetwood to Larne, plus Liverpool to Dublin and Rosslare to Cherbourg.

Pandoro is an acronym of P AND ORO (i.e. roll on). P&O purchased Coast Lines in order to increase its freight interests and road haulage in 1971, then reorganised its 120 subsidiaries into 5 divisions. Coast Lines, Burns & Laird and the Belfast Steamship Company were absorbed into P&O's Irish Sea Services.

In 1972 Ferrymasters was formed which created the route between Fleetwood and Larne. British Transport Docks board built a roll on roll off terminal at Fleetwood and purchased roll on roll off vessels called Bison and Buffalo from the Stena Line for £8m in 1974.

Pandoro was then formed in December 1974 and Ferrymasters was incorporated into it. The route from Liverpool to Dublin was created at this time. At a time when the 'troubles' were affecting tourism, many of the less profitable services such as those to and from Preston, Garston, Newry, Warrenpoint and Londonderry were cancelled, but Pandoro grew their services.

Irish Sea Services was formed in October 1975 when Burns & Laird and Belfast Steamship Co were joined together. The two boats used were the Ulster Queen and the Ulster Prince. Liverpool to Belfast had to be withdrawn as a route in 1981.

During the 1980s and 1990s Pandoro began to stretch the boars that they had, with the Buffalo and the Bison receiving an extra deck. Extra boats including the Puma and the Ibex have been added to the fleet, and they both received extra decks. The Viking Trader had been built for Stena Line in 1977, but when P&O took it on and transferred it to Pandoro she was renamed Leopard and used for the Fleetwood - Dublin route. In 1993 the European Clearway was acquired to be used on the Rosslare - Cherbourg service. This was renamed Panther. Then the Merchant Valiant was built in 1978 to serve the Ardrossan - Larne link and renamed the Lion. In preparation for the formation of P&O European Ferries (Irish Sea) the entire fleet was renamed, all with names beginning "European" - the Pioneer, Leader, Envoy, Navigator, Highlander, Pathfinder and Seafarer.

In 1999 an order was made from Japan for £33m worth of boat for use on the Liverpool - Dublin route. As the company attempt to expand the tourist/passenger car market there will be more orders.

As it stands routes are Larne to Cairnryan, Larne to Fleetwood, Dublin to Liverpool, Rosslare to Cherbourg and Mostyn to Dublin.

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