Built	2000/2002 Mitsubishi, Shimonoeki, Japan
Size	20, 646gt/21,188 159.5M x 23.4
Capacity	Passengers: 410 Berths: 331 Cars: 375
Engines Speed	4 x Wärtsilä (31,860) 22.6kts
Route	Larne-Cairnryan

P&O significantly upgraded the North Channel link between Larne and Cairnryan, originally started by the Transport Ferry Service, when replacing four vessels - the passenger and vehicle ferry Pride of Rathlin (1973, 12,50Bgt), sold to Indonesia, and three ro-ro freight units - with these Japan-built sisters. Their high service speed enabled crossing times to be reduced by half an hour to 100 minutes and up to 14 return services are provided daily. After delivering European Causeway at the beginning of 2000, Mitsubishi then completed the larger European Ambassador for the Dublin-Mostyn route before European Highlander arrived to complete the Larne line-up in May 2002.

 

European Seafarer

Built	1975 J. J. Sietas. Hamburg, Germany
Size	10,976gt 141.8M x 19.4M x 4.7M
Capacity	Passengers: 50 Berths: 50 Lane Meters: 1,180
Engines Speed	2xDeutz (8,825kW) 17.5 kts
Route	Larne-Feetwood

The third in a Stena series of ro-ro freight vessels built in Hamburg spent her early years in New Zealand-Australia traffic as Union Melbourne for the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand. Arriving on the Irish Sea initially chartered for Pandoro's Dublin-Liverpool route as Puma, she was bought by P&O during 1980 Renamed European Seafarer in 1998, she switched to the Larne-Fleetwood run, and in 2001 had a spell on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route although she returned to Fleetwood in 2002 following the arrival of European Diplomat on the route.

Norbank/Norbay

Built	1993/1994 Van der Giessen-de Noord, Rotterdam, Holland
Size	17,464gt, 166.7m x 23.4M x 5.8m
Capacity	Passengers 114 Berths 114 Lane Meters 2,040
Engines Speed	4 x Sulzer (22,259kW), 22 kts Route
Route	Dublin-Liverpool

Built for North Sea Ferries to provide a fast overnight freight link with Rotterdam Europoort from a Humber river berth at Hull, the Dutch-flagged Norbank opened the service in 1993 and was first to leave, moving to the FeIixtowe-Europoort freight route after the introduction of Pride of Rotterdam in May 2001. The British-flagged Norbay came on stream in 1994 staying until Pride of Hull's debut towards the end of 2001. Both ships switched to the P&O Irish Sea Dublin -Liverpool freight service in January 2002 since when passengers travelling with cars have been carried at special fares inclusive of meals and with cabin accommodation for night crossings. Both route and vessels are included in the sale to Stena Line.

Fast Ferries
Express

Built	1998 InCat Australia Pte Ltd., Hobart
Size	5,902gt, 91.3 x 26 x 3.7m
Capacity	Passengers 920 Cars:225
Engines Speed	4 x CATERPILLAR 3618 41kts
Route	Larne - Cairnryan/Troon

Built for Buquebus of Argentina as Catalonia 1, was first used on Buquebus Espana Barcelona-Mallorca service until being chartered to P&O Portsmouth in April 2000 as Portsmouth Express. In winter 2000/2001 she operated between Buenos Aries (Argentina) and Piriaolis (Uruguay) as Catalonia for Buquebus. She returned to Portsmouth for spring 2001 and resumed the name Portsmouth Express. That autumn she returned to Buquebus services as Catalonia, and in spring 2002 returned to Portsmouth. For the winter seasion of 2002/2003 she was laid up in Europe. She returned to Portsmouth services in Spring 2003 and was marketed as the express, that November she was renamed the Express, and in 2004 was marketed as the Cherbourg Express. In 2005 she moved to Larne- Cairnryan and Troon services for P&O Irish Sea, and undertook some Larne-Douglas sailings for the Isle of Man TT races.