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In an effort to boost seasonal traffic on the
crossing, the Dover ferry Free Enterprise III was
introduced on the Cairnryan - Larne route
between July - October 1974. She then returned
south at which time the Bardic Ferry took up
station. The small, stern loader Free Enterprise I
was transferred to the link for the 1975 season
after which the Free Enterprise IV appeared in
1976 and was such a success that she remained
for the next ten years. The year 1976 also saw the
sale of the 'Bardic' and the 'Ionic' to Greek
owners.
The ro-ro vessel European Gateway, which had
entered service at Felixstowe during June 1975,
was also transferred to the North Channel link in
March 1980 to cover for the annual overhaul of
the ‘FE IV’ and the Doric Ferry while that winter
she was sent to Amsterdam to be lengthened and
to increase her passenger capacity to 328 before
operating the North Channel service on a
permanent basis with the ‘FE IV’. Now spare
vessels, in the following year the ‘Doric’ and
‘Cerdic’ were offered for sale. |
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Sadly the ‘Gateway’
was lost off Felisxtowe during a period in which
she was covering for overhaul in December 1981.
The Gaelic Ferry was then transferred to the
Ulster link until replaced by the Europic Ferry in
March 1983.
On board Bardic Ferry
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