First Ever Direct Ireland-Continental Europe Ferry Service Launched Half A Century Ago

17th May 2018

Jehan Ashmore

In a troika involving Irish Shipping Ltd, M.V. Leopard (originally in all white livery) began the first ever direct Ireland-mainland continental Europe passenger/car ferry service 50 years ago this month between Rosslare and Le Havre, France. In addition to running later in the winter of 1968 a UK-Iberia-Africa service. Above: the 6,000 tonnes French flagged ferry is seen in 1979 with pale blue colours of P&O Normandy Ferries which acquired the ship three years previously and still operated on the English Channel. Before the ship left northern Europe, she spent a stint on the North Channel for Townsend Thoresen. Credit: Dennis Hobbs / Wikipedia

#FerryNews - The first ever direct Ireland-mainland continental Europe ferry service began on this date 50 years ago when on 17 May, 1968, M.V. Leopard made a historic crossing from Rosslare to Le Havre, France, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The pioneering direct continental passenger and car ferry service was launched by the state-owned Irish Shipping Ltd (ISL) and Normandy Ferries jointly operated by the General Steam Navigation Company (British) and Société Anonyme de Gérance et d'Armement (S.A.G.A.) owned by the French Rothschild banking family.

The service provided a novel way for Irish holiday-makers to arrive in France and to discover the wonders of the country and the continent beyond.

S.A.G.A. commissioned the Leopard (850 passengers/240 cars) which was built in Brittany at Nantes and entered service in 1968 firstly on the English Channel serving the Le Havre-Southampton route. A 6,000 tonnes sister, Dragon joined the service however rivals, Townsend Thoresen were operating in direct competition.

It was soon realised that traffic was not sufficient for both operators. This led to Normandy Ferries transferring the Leopard during 1968 on the Le Havre-Rosslare route in partnership with ISL.

In addition the Dragon in that same year's off-peak season launched a new UK-Iberian-African service. This also involved sailings from the same south UK port of Southampton to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon and onward sailings to Casablanca, Morroco. In addition, Dragon carried out crossings between Southampton and Rouen on the Seine.

As for the Ireland-France service, the first season carried 31,000 passengers and in 1969 the route was operated to a twice-weekly sailing with sailings also run by Dragon. The service ran the following year, however operations were withdrawn at the end of the 1971 season.

Both the British and French partners cited reasons for the withdrawal of the service was because they required the ferry sisters for other services.

The abrupt nature in closing the service did not allow sufficient time to resume a 1972 season, however a new operator re-launched the Ireland-France route the following year.

ISL's new ferry devision, Irish Continental Line (ICL) entered in co-operation with two operators. Fearnley & Eger, were Norwegian interests and the other concern was Lion Ferry A/B of Sweden. The trioka launched sailings in 1973 on the continental link using the newbuild, Saint Patrick, in which Afloat will have more to feature on next month.

Following the success of this service, a second route was added to Cherbourg in 1978 with the introduction of Saint Killian. The ferry would later become 'stretched' in 1982.

Irish Shipping Ltd however went into liquidation in 1984, which led to Irish Continental Line sold off in a management buyout and to emerge as Irish Continental Group.

ICG are the parent company of Irish Ferries which are the successors of the Ireland-France service which is complemented by Ireland-UK operations. Since change of ownership, routes on the continental service have come and gone and so too the ferries. As for the present cruiseferry, Oscar Wilde had docked in Roscoff, having arrived earlier today and at time of writing has departed the Breton port early this evening.

The former Norway-Germany serving ferry of one time Jahre Line and later Color Line. This evening, Oscar Wilde is to making a return crossing to the Wexford port where that historic sailing began five decades ago.

Roll on 50 years to 2018 as a week ago the historic first ever Ireland-Spain direct ferry service by Brittany Ferries was completed. This saw the ropax Connemara make a maiden Cork-Santander sailing last Thursday.

The chartered ferry further carried out operating new additional sailings on the Cork-Roscoff route, though firstly diverting to Brest due to operational reasons.

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

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A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!