Townsend Thoresen

European Ferries Group plc

Company type	Public limited company
Industry	Ferry services, port operations, property management
Predecessor	Monument Securities Limited, George Nott Industries Limited
Founded	1935
Defunct	1987
Fate	Acquired by P&O and rebranded as P&O European Ferries
Headquarters	United Kingdom , United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom, United States, Europe
Products	Passenger and freight ferry services, harbour facilities management, property assets management

European Ferries Group plc was engaged in operating passenger and freight ferry services, managing harbour facilities, and overseeing property assets in both the United Kingdom and the United States. In 1987, it was acquired by P&O and subsequently rebranded as P&O European Ferries.

History

Established in 1935 under the name Monument Securities Limited, the company went public in 1949. It secured a majority interest of 51% in Townsend Car Ferries in 1957, gaining full ownership by 1959, at which point it adopted the name George Nott Industries Limited.

Townsend Thoresen

The year 1968 saw George Nott Industries acquire Otto Thoresen Shipping Company along with its subsidiary Thoresen Car Ferries, leading to a rebranding as European Ferries Limited. The purchase of Atlantic Steam Navigation Company in 1971 further broadened its ferry operations, which were marketed under the Townsend Thoresen brand.

European Ferries enhanced its control over port facilities through the acquisition of Larne Harbour Limited and a 50% share in Harwich naval dockyard in 1973, followed by the takeover of Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company in 1976.

In 1979, the company ventured into property development, investing in land holdings located in Denver, Atlanta, and Houston, totaling approximately .

By May 1984, company assets were consolidated under European Ferries Group plc. In January 1985, it expanded its ferry service routes by acquiring P&O’s operations between Dover-Boulogne and Southampton-Le Havre (previously operated as Normandy Ferries).

On 6 March 1987, the Townsend Thoresen roll-on/roll-off ferry Herald of Free Enterprise tragically capsized near Zeebrugge due to bow doors remaining open, resulting in 193 deaths. This incident prompted P&O to hasten efforts to phase out the Townsend Thoresen brand to reduce negative associations.

Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company

European Ferries took control of the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company in 1976, thereby assuming responsibility for operations at the Port of Felixstowe. Townsend Thoresen had initiated a twice-daily ferry service from Felixstowe to Zeebrugge in 1974. By 1978, European Ferries had constructed a terminal dedicated to passenger and freight handling for Townsend Thoresen services.

Under European Ferries’ stewardship, Felixstowe’s container throughput capacity increased to approximately 500,000 units per year; it processed 252,802 containers in 1980, establishing itself as the largest container port in the UK. In 1984, it became the first British seaport to introduce computerised customs clearance systems.

Following European Ferries’ acquisition by P&O in 1987, port management continued under P&O until Hutchison Whampoa acquired the Port of Felixstowe in 1991.

Larne Harbour Limited

In 1973, European Ferries assumed control of port operations at Larne in Northern Ireland through Larne Harbour Limited. Under its leadership, Larne developed into Northern Ireland’s principal roll-on/roll-off port. Investments included installing double-deck ro/ro facilities in 1978 and opening a passenger terminal in 1985.

Property management

European Ferries Group maintained several property management subsidiaries: EF International Inc (USA), Inmogold SA (Spain), and Townsend Thoresen Developments and Properties Limited (UK). In May 1985, most UK property assets were transferred to Stockley Plc in exchange for a 44% equity stake; however, after Stockley acquired shares from Stock Conversion Plc, this shareholding declined to 34.7%. The group retained ownership of around 15–20 properties within the UK and was involved with a substantial leisure development spanning 1100 acres in Southern Spain, alongside holding properties in Hamburg and Frankfurt.

In the media

• The ferry featured in the 1969 movie The Italian Job was the Free Enterprise I.
• During the 1977 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Fleet Review, the Viking Valiant took part.
• In 1981, Townsend Thoresen was the sponsor of the British Formula Ford 1600cc Championship, an event won by Ayrton Senna, who later became a Formula One legend.

Falklands War

In 1982, the Ministry of Defence requisitioned three ships from European Ferries to aid in the Falklands conflict: Europic Ferry, Nordic Ferry, and Baltic Ferry.

• On 1 June 1982, Baltic Ferry delivered three Army helicopters, 105 soldiers, and 1,874 tons of supplies and ammunition to Ajax Bay.
• Europic Ferry transported vehicles, fuel, ammunition, and four Scout helicopters belonging to 656 Squadron AAC to San Carlos on 21 May 1982, leaving the Falklands on 23 June 1982, nine days after combat operations ceased.
• On 29 May 1982, Nordic Ferry brought troops, equipment, and ammunition to the area and returned to the United Kingdom on 29 July for conversion back to civilian use by 25 August.

Following the conflict, insights gained in military transportation influenced British Government operations. For Exercise Purple Warrior held in Scotland in November 1987, the Ministry of Defence chartered vessels including European Ferries' Viking Viscount. Before deployment, modifications were made to Viking Viscount, adding an extra ramp for unloading vehicles onto Mexeflotes. Military vehicles were loaded at Plymouth prior to the exercise.

External links

• Townsend Thoresen photographs
• Comprehensive fleet register (Swedish)