ROSYTH TO ZEEBRUGGE CHEAP FERRY TICKETS

SUPERFERRIES

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 Rosyth and Pride of Zeebrugge in 1987 signalled a whole new era of ferry travel for those making the short trip between Rosyth and Zeebrugge.

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 Rosyth, arrived in the Spring of 1993 as a fifth passenger superferry to operate between Zeebrugge and Rosyth. This service had already benefited in June 1992 by the return of a new look Pride of Zeebrugge - 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 Rosyth.