Nigel Thornton Collection

Steel twin screw motor vessel, built by Cammell, Laird of Birkenhead in 1967 for Messrs. Burns & Laird (Yard No. 1326) as a passenger and roll-on roll-off car ferry for the Irish Channel service. Engined by Crossley Bros. Ltd., of Manchester. Launched August 8^th, 1967.

Technical Data

Length on deck - 111.10m (364.3 ft) (overall)

(340 ft) (between perpendiculars)

Breadth of hull - 17.10m (58.2 ft) (extreme)

Depth - (36.7 ft) (moulded)

Draught - 4.30m (14 ft) (maximum)

Tonnage - 3,333 gross (1967), 6,280 (1985)

1,204 net (1967), 2,433 (1985)

932 deadweight (1967), 1,412 (1985)

Engines - Two 12-cylinder Crossley four-stroke single-acting diesels

Power - 7722 kW

Speed - 19 knots

Capacity - 1,200 passengers, 170 cars on the car deck and 40 commercial vehicles on the folded car deck.

History

August 8^th 1967: Launched

December 1967: Delivered to Burns & Laird, Glasgow, Scotland.

December 27^th 1967: Displayed in Glasgow.

December 29^th 1967: Displayed in Belfast.

January 3^rd 1968: Commenced service between Ardrossan - Larne. Force 9 gale delayed maiden voyage by 90 minutes.

January 15^th 1968: Repeatedly thrown against the quay at Ardrossan during severe storm. Out of service for two weeks for repairs to hull and damage to the then wooden belting.

February 5^th 1968: Resumed service after repairs.

September 19^th 1971: Conducted berthing trials at the Gurrock linkspan

September 20^th 1971: First commercial call at Gurrock.

Nigel Thornton Collection

October 1^st 1971: Company taken over by to P&O Short Sea Shipping, England.

September 28^th 1973: Registered to Belfast Steamship Co, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

March 31^st 1975: Introduced by P & O. Continued between Ardrossan - Larne.

February 12^th 1976: Final sailing between Ardrossan - Larne.

February 17^th 1976: Left Ardrossan for Le Havre

February 20^th 1976: Transferred to Southern Ferries Ltd., London, England. Rebuilt, including bow visor, at Chantelier de l'Atlantique, Le Havre, France.

Nigel Thornton Collection

April 8^th 1976: Introduced between Dover - Boulogne on bareboat charter to Normandy Ferries.

© Fotoflite, Stéphane Poulain Collection (left) and the Nigel Thornton Collection (right)

1978 (spring): Repainted with light blue hull with Normandy Ferries in white letters

© Fotoflite, Stéphane Poulain Collection (left) and the Nigel Thornton Collection (right)

August 31^st 1978: Registered to P&O Normandy Ferries Ltd, London, England.

December 28^th 1979: Arriving at Boulogne in a gale at about 10.25, was blown across the harbour from berth 13 (the original 1952 berth) westwards to the trawler slipway which she touched with her stern. The slipway was put out of order and the trawler on it was damaged. Fortunately it was high water and three tugs came to the LION’s aid. After an unpleasant two hours all was well and following a divers inspection the LION left for Dover at 13.50. The next day the TIGER suffered engine trouble at Dover and promptly went out of service for two days. The LION left for three weeks dry-docking at Flushing on December 30th, 1979 and so consequently there were no P & O sailings until the TIGER resumed at 16.30 on the last day of the year (1979)

© Brian Fisher

January 31^st 1980: Recommenced service from Dover and released the TIGER for her own overhaul which lasted until February 16th. Both reappeared with the fleets new P & O hull and funnel markings.

November 2^nd 1984: Collided with Dover Breakwater.

November 7^th 1984: To Chatham Naval Dockyard to have her “cowcatcher” straightened after collision.

January 4^th 1985: Sold to European Ferries Plc, (Townsend Thoresen). Commenced service between Portsmouth - Le Havre.

© Brian Fisher

January 1985: During a dispute over better redundancy terms, used to block the Continental Ferry Port at Portsmouth.

February 1985: Went to Humber Ship Repairers, Immingham for annual overhaul and was inspected by Greek interests.

April 24^th 1985: Sold to Thenamaris Shipping Inc, Limassol (Marlines), Cyprus. Renamed BARONESS M. Departed for the Mediterranean and rebuild.

Roy Thornton Collection

1985 (Late): Remained idle.

May 25^th 1986 - September 1986: Operated between Ancona - Igoumenitsa - Patras - Piraeus - Izmir.

April 5^th 1987: Chartered to British Channel Island Ferries, renamed PORTELET. Introduced between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey.

October 1987: Renamed BARONESS M, laid up in Weymouth.

April 1988: Chartered to British Channel Island Ferries, renamed PORTELET and commenced service between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey.

© Brian Fisher

October 1^st 1988: Completed her charter and reverted to the name BARONESS M, operated between Larnaca - Jounieh, Lebanon.

1990: Operated between Piraeus - Larnaca - Israel for a short period.

February 24^th 1990: Whilst on a journey from Larnaca to Greece came under fire from a gun-boat. Withdrawn for repairs.

1991: Operated between Brindisi - Korfu - Igoumenitsa - Patras.

January 1997: Sold to Equester, Shipping, Kingstown, Saint Vincent & Grenadine.

January 24^th 1997: Left Piraeus for Indonesia. Later commenced operations in Indonesia.

2002: Renamed ADINDA LESTARI 101.

March 2004: Sold for scrapping in Bangladesh.

April 12^th 2004: Arrived at Chittagong Roads, Bangladesh for breaking.

All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for errors and omissions. All items included in this article are subject to ©. We would like to thank: Micke Asklander (Faktaomfartyg), Stéphane Poulain and Brian Fisher for their assistance in producing this feature.