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The Bardic Ferry made her maiden voyage
between Preston and Larne in September 1957
while the 'Ionic' entered service on the same link
in October 1958 at which time the premier ship
was transferred to Tilbury - Antwerp. Two more
larger vessels of this type were duly ordered from
the Ailsa at Troon and the Cerdic Ferry
(Rotterdam service) and Doric Ferry (Antwerp
service) entered service at Tilbury in November
1961 and April 1962 by which
time the 'Bardic' was back on
the Irish Sea. |
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The European Ferries Group (EFG) acquired the
ASN for £5.5 million in November 1971 and
immediately injected new ideas, new ships and a
new style of service. The closure of Preston, with
its tidal problems and a long and narrow course
up the River Ribble, occurred in March 1973 and
the following day the Ionic Ferry (with an
increased passenger certificate for 218) sailed to
Cairnryan for trials before commencing the new
service across the North Channel in July. The
closure of Preston - Larne saw the Belfast
services doubled using the Bardic Ferry |
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With the new vessels in operation, the LST fleet was
gradually reduced until the final such ship, the Empire
Nordic, was withdrawn in December 1966. With no
relief ship during the annual overhauls, ASN
chartered Thoresen's Viking 1 to serve the
Preston - Larne route during January 1967.
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and Doric Ferry but at the close of July 1974 the passage was terminated and all traffic was in future shipped through Cairnryan which had by this time gained a second linkspan. October 1973 had seen the EFG purchase the Larne Harbour Company
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Captain H.T. Green with Preston pilot on
the Empire Gaelic |
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During the 1960s, ASN had purchased a small
pier at Cairnryan on Loch Ryan, Wigtownshire, for
£60,000 and in 1970 they decided to upgrade it
for a new short-sea service.
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