 | TOWNSEND THORESEN CAR FERRIES |
Work started on the jumboization of Venturer in the December of 1985 and progressed to everyone's satisfaction. Changes in the passenger accommodation were limited to a new driver's lounge and a seating area forward on 'D' deck. The crew accommodation was changed when the old garage deck area was converted to cabins. The A.B.'s and Engine Room crew who had until this time occupied 'G' Deck forward moved up as did the Catering crew who had occupied 'G' Deck aft.
Jumboization
Before
After
The crew accommodation aft with some alterations including a lounge became the freight driver's cabins. A new auxiliary Engine Room was placed forward housing two diesels, one to supplement the three alternators providing electricity, the other drove one of the two bow thrust mechanically. The Officers who in the main had used communal showers and W.C.s were now afforded the luxury of having their cabins en suite (one giant step for mankind etc.) An additional two lifeboats were fitted with access by way of stairwells port and starboard forward. Last but not least the ships took on a top-heavy appearance and looked rather like someone had stepped on them!
Aft section of passenger accommodation being removed. (P&O Euro Ferries)
In early 1986 the Ports of Felixstowe and Portsmouth were affected by N.U.S. disputes and the Company decided that it would be prudent to move Valiant to Bremerhaven early thus removing any threat to her scheduled jumboization. With both the Venturer and Valiant now out of the frame the Company chartered the Merchant Trader for three months, this ship was the only vessel that I have ever sailed on which actually had footholds bolted to the bulkheads in the stairwells which ran in tandem with the steps.
Merchant Trader
Further industrial action ensued in 1986, firstly with the Company's announcement that it was withdrawing the leopard from service, later the French crew were pacified when it was further announced after much argument that they would man Voyager until October. The ship for this exercise had to be re-registered at Le Havre and briefly flew the French flag. Both Voyager and Viscount were further delayed by industrial action in Rotterdam during their annual refit. The new look Viking Venturer after further work on the accommodation in Southampton finally entered service on the 19th May and left on the afternoon sailing for Le Havre.
Viking Venturer at the new terminal in Le Havre.
Viking Valiant re-entered service on the 3rd of July sailing to Le Havre on the late evening slot. In the same month Leopard was finally sold to a Cypriot company and renamed Countess M, her sister Dragon once more found herself on the Cairnryan- Larne service and was also renamed to Ionic Ferry.
Ionic Ferry
At the end of the summer season in 1986 the Viscount was chartered for two-day trips from Poole to Normandy after which she proceeded to lay-up in Southampton. The Voyager with her French crew being made redundant once more returned to the Red Ensign.
Townsend-Thoresen for some years had been diversifying its corporate aims and had invested money in various ventures, for instances it was a partner in Airship Industries who built dirigibles and also built a spectacular golfing complex at La Manga in Spain. But by far its largest investment was an ambitious building project in Denver, Colorado and this was to prove to be the downfall of T.T. European Ferries. With costs spiralling it was deemed necessary to bring in extra financial backing and two American businessmen arrived on the scene. The investment attributed to these two men was massive and both became leading shareholders in European ferries. P & O had already accumulated shares in European Ferries and at a clandestine meeting with the two Americans struck a deal whereby P & O purchased their shares, this effectively gave P & O a majority ownership in European Ferries. Consequently on the 5th of December 1986 Townsend Thoresen became part of the P & O Group. It is worth remembering that it had only been two years previous in the January of 1985 that P & O had sold its Cross Channel interests to Townsend Thoresen!
Europic Ferry in Cairnryan.
For nearly a year no impact of this deal was apparent, no changes in local management or in the operating staff's conditions. The Voyager and Viscount underwent interior changes which had been planned before the takeover which included the removal of the 'B' Deck passenger cabins and the installation of a Club Class Lounge, access by paying extra.
Viking Trader in Southampton in the background Vosper Thornycroft.
After being laid up in Southampton over winter Viking Trader did refit reliefs in Felixstowe and Cairnryan before returning to Portsmouth to resume freight services on the Le Havre route.
Viking Trader.
This year saw the removal of the famous T.T. logo not only from the funnels which had undergone a colour change from green to blue but also from uniforms worn by catering staff. The ships distinct orange hulls were to remain for a further season and would reappear the following year dark blue. On the 21st October Townsend Thoresen flags throughout the fleet were lowered and replaced with that of P & O.
P & O Flag
For over twenty-three years the extremely distinctive ships had sailed across the channel beginning with Viking I way back in the May of 1964. New standards had been achieved in cuisine and comfort for passengers and this had filtered through to other ferry operators, consequently it was the travelling public who gained most from Otto Thoresen's vision and therefore this narrative is a tribute to Otto's achievement.
Captain Simon Waite, his Officers and crew of Viking Valiant.