Dover’s Trio of Train Ferries

In the mid-1960s, faced with the challenge of renewing the ageing train ferry fleet operating between Dover and Dunkerque, British Rail’s designers developed an innovative idea for a true multi-purpose ferry (navire polyvalent). Shaking off their legacy of conservative design thinking, this new concept was for a highly flexible vessel, able to equally serve the rail-connected train ferry crossing and operate as a modern ro-ro passenger, vehicle and freight ferry according to need. Three similar such vessels were eventually commissioned; the Vortigern of 1969 for British Rail, SNCF’s Chartres of 1974 and the heavily-delayed Saint-Eloi for ALA in 1975. After successful careers on the English Channel, each went on to see extensive further service. While the Saint–Eloi initially became the Isle of Man Steam Packet’s popular King Orry, all three were ultimately sold to southern Europe, where as the Sporades Star, the latter remains as the last of the vessels in service today.