P & O Ferries

In the late 1960s, P&O established ferry services in the North Sea and English Channel. Roll-on/roll-off operations and containerization were introduced and new ships, facilities and investment was needed to take advantage of developments. What followed was several decades of growth, buy-outs and divisions. The twenty-first century saw the closure of several routes as the ferries saw increased competition from low-cost airline and the Channel Tunnel. Throughout this period, P&O attracted a loyal customer base and became one of the most recognisable names on the sea. Utilising a selection of rare and previously unpublished images, maritime historian Ian Collard delves into the story of this iconic company and its ships.