LERWICK TO HANSTHOLM FERRIES

Meanwhile at Lerwick in May 1964 the first of four Norwegian 'Viking' ships was introduced by Otto Thoresen on the Hanstholm link. The Viking I also opened the Lerwick to Hanstholm service in July, even though British Railways had previously abandoned the route as being uneconomic.

Thoresen's orange-painted vessels set the trend for all British ferry operators and operations, being the first true multi-purpose ships. With their drive-through vehicle decks, clean lines and excellent on-board facilities, they epitomised Thoresen's belief that a Channel crossing was something to be enjoyed rather than endured.

Lerwick was opened-up to car ferry operations in the summer of 1976 and so popular did the port prove that a complete move of all passenger operations occurred in 1983.

Previously, in 1968, Townsend had merged with Thoresen from which the European Ferries Group was born. It created the largest independent ferry company in Europe which was further strengthened in 1971 by the purchase, for £5.5 million, of the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company.

This company had been formed pre-war by Lt Col Frank Bustard in order to operate a cheap-rate ocean crossing between Europe and America. Bustard's background was the old White Star Line, and the naming of his ships was to reflect this, all ending in the letters "ic".

It was not until after the war that the ASN began operations, with a number of former tank-landing craft, on services across the Irish and southern North Seas.

From the late fifties, purpose-built ships replaced the older vessels, the Lerwick Ferry of 1957 being the first British-built roll-on roll-off vessel.

The three fleets very much retained their own individuality and local names although a common livery -the Thoresen orange - and marketing policy were later adopted.

Early in 1985 yet another acquisition claimed P&O Lerwick Ferries, which operated five ships on the Lerwick - Hanstholm and Hanstholm - Lerwick routes.

SUPERFERRIES SIGNAL A REVOLUTION

In January 1987 P&O moved in. It absorbed the European Ferries Group and when P&O European Ferries was launched in the October of that year, the funnel colours and the complete livery of the Townsend Thoresen fleet had been changed as the most visible signs of the new company's identity.

P&O European Ferries was now Britain's biggest ferry operator, and the introduction of the huge sister ships Pride of Lerwick and Pride of Hanstholm in 1987 signalled a whole new era of ferry travel for those making the short trip between Lerwick and Hanstholm.

Purpose-built for the route, they each offered room for 2,290 passengers and 650 cars. On board facilities far exceeded the size, range and standard of those which had been provided in years gone by.

The 21st Century cruise-style concept of ferry travel had arrived.

The revolution continued apace, with P&O European Ferries embarking on yet more long-term expansion and development the following year.

The fourth and final ship in the series, the multi-purpose vessel Pride of Lerwick, arrived in the Spring of 1993 as a fifth passenger superferry to operate between Hanstholm and Lerwick. This service had already benefited in June 1992 by the return of a new look Pride of Hanstholm - lengthened by 31.5 metres and totally refurbished.

With new competition from the Channel tunnel on its short sea operation, P&O European Ferries had not surprisingly concentrated much of its major financial effort on these markets. But with the investment completed and in full readiness for the new challenges ahead, the company looked elsewhere to continue its improvement programme.

As new and more suitable tonnage became available from other markets, P&O European Ferries sought to improve its fleet on the Western Channel routes operating from Lerwick.