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BRITISH & IRISH STEAM
PACKET CO.
(B+I LINE)
©AIDEN
MC CABE
THE COMPANY WAS FORMED BY A GROUP OF DUBLIN BUSINESS MEN IN 1836, AFTER A
MEETING IN THE COMMERICAL BUILDINGS IN DAME STREET DUBLIN.
THEIR FIRST SHIPS WERE THE WOODEN PADDLE STEAMES- SHANNON, THE
DEVONSHIRE, AND THE CITY OF LIMERICK, EACH AROUND 400 TONS.
IN THE LATE 1840S THEY INVESTED IN IRON SCHOONERS, THE FIRST BEING THE ROSE, AND
THE SHAMROCK, BOTH OF WHICH HAD SCREW PROPELLERS. THESE SHIPS RAN TO FALMOUTH-TORQUAY-SOUTHAMPTON-PORTSMOUTH AND LONDON.
BY THE 1850S MORE SHIPS WERE NEEDED AND THEY ACQUIRED THE FOYLE, THE NILE AND
THE LADY EGLINTON ALL IRON SCREW STEAMERS WITH THE LAST TWO BEING BUILT FOR THE
COMPANY.
IN 1860 THEY ACQUIRED THE SMALL PADDLE STEAMER "MARS" FROM THE
WATERFORD STEAMSHIP CO. FOR THE DUBLIN-WEXFORD-WATERFORD SERVICE. THIS LASTED
TILL 1863 WHEN SHE WAS SOLD TO AN AMERICAN COMPANY; WHO EVENTULLY USED HER AS
BLOCKADE RUNNER FOR THE CONFEDERATES IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR!
ALSO IN 1860 THE COMPANY MOVED FROM THEIR EDEN QUAY OFFICES (WHERE THE COMPANY
CREST STILL SURVIVES) TO NO.46 NORTH WALL.
IN THE LATE 1860s THEY ORDERED NEW SHIPS FROM WALPOLE, WEBB & CO. OF DUBLIN,
THESE WERE THE LADY WODEHOUSE (843 TONS), AND THE COUNTESS OF DUBLIN (760 TONS).
IN 1870 THEY BOUGHT THE LONDON SERVICE OFF THE WATERFORD STEAMSHIP CO., WHICH
GAVE THEM A MONOPOLY ON THIS ROUTE. THEY ALSO ACQUIRED THE AVOCO (824 TONS), AND
THE CYMBA (654 TONS) FROM THE WATERFORD CO.
IN 1878 THEY ORDERED THEIR LAST IRON SCREW STEAMER THE LADY OLIVE (1,031
TONS) FROM A & J INGLIS OF SCOTLAND. OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS SOME OF THE
SHIPS THEY ACQUIRED WERE:
THE LADY MARTIN—1888 (1,245 TONS)
THE LADY HUDSON-KINAHAN--- 1891 (1,368 TONS)
THE LADY WOLSELEY---1894 (1,450 TONS)
THE LADY ROBERTS--- 1897 (1,462)
THE LADY GWENDOLEN 1911 (2,163 TONS)
DURING THE 1ST. WORLD WAR THEY HAD TWO SHIPS BUILT FOR THE DUBLIN-LONDON ROUTE,
THE LADY WIMBORNE (1,542 TONS) BUILT IN SCOTLAND AND THE LADY CLOE (1,581 TONS)
BUILT IN MIDDLESBROUGH. THESE COULD ACCOMMODATE 70 PASSENGERS AND CALLED AT
FALMOUTH-TORQUAY AND SOUTHAMPTON.
IN 1917 THE LIVERPOOL SHIPPING CO. OF POWELL, BACON AND HOUGH WERE TAKEN OVER BY
THE KYLSANT ROYAL MAIL COMPANY AND RENAMED COAST LINES. BY THE END OF 1917 COAST
LINES HELD ALL THE SHARES IN THE B+I LINE. COAST LINES GROUP INCLUDED:
CITY OF CORK STEAM PACKET CO.
THE BELFAST STEAMSHIP CO.
BURNS & LAIRD
CITY OF DUBLIN STEAM PACKET CO. (TAKEN OVER IN 1920)
TEDCASTLE, McCORMACK OF DUBLIN (1919)
THE DUBLIN AND LANCASHIRE SHIPPING CO. (1922)
DUNDALK & NEWRY STEAM PACKET CO. (1926)
IN 1923 THE LADY LOUTH (1,870 TONS) WAS DELIVERED FROM THE ADROSSAN
DOCKYARD WHO ALSO DELIVERED THE LADY LIMERICK (1,945 TONS) AND THESE SHIPS TOOK
UP THE NIGHTLY SERVICE BETWEEN DUBLIN AND LIVERPOOL. THEY HAD ACCOMMODATION FOR
80 FIRST CLASS AND 90 STEERAGE PASSENGERS.
IN 1929 THE LADY MUNSTER 1,871 TONS (FORMLY THE GRAPHIC) TOOK UP THE
DUBLIN-LIVERPOOL SERVICE AND WAS FOLLOWED BY THE LADY CONNAUGHT 1,869 TONS
(EX.HEROIC) AND THE LADY LEINSTER 2,254 TONS (EX.PATRIOTIC). ALSO IN 1929 THE
COMPANY TOOK DELIVERLY OF THE CATTLE BOAT LADY MEATH 1,598 TONS.
THE EARLY 1930s SAW THE DEPRESSION AT ITS DEEPEST AND SHIPPING ALL OVER THE
WORLD SUFFERED, HOWEVER COAST LINES REMAINED BUOYANT AND PROFITABLE. IN 1936 THE
COMPANY OFFERED A CONTROLLING INTEREST IN THE B+I LINE TO THE IRISH GOVERNMENT
BUT THEY DECLINED AND B+I REMAINED WITH COAST LINES.
IN 1937 THE TWIN SCREW MOTOR VESSEL LEINSTER 4,300 TONS WAS DELIVERED FROM
HARLAND & WOLFF OF BELFAST AND IN 1938 THE MUNSTER 4,300 TONS FOLLOWED. TWO
NEW CATTLE CARRIERS WERE ALSO BUILT AT THIS TIME, THE KILKENNY 1,320 TONS BUILT
BY THE LIFFEY DOCKYARD IN 1937 AND THE DUNDALK 630 TONS FROM ADROSSAN IN
SCOTLAND.
DURING THE 2ND. WORLD WAR THE B+I LOST 2 PASSENGER SHIPS, THE INNISFALLAN SANK
BY A GERMAN BLITZ ON LIVERPOOL IN 1940, AND THE MUNSTER SANK BY A MINE OF THE
BAR IN LIVERPOOL ALSO IN 1940.
AFTER THE WORLD THE LONGFORD (EX.LADY CONNAUGHT) AND THE LOUTH (EX.LADY MUNSTER)
WERE USED ON THE DUBLIN-LIVERPOOL ROUTE.
IN 1948 THEY TOOK DELIVERY OF TWO NEW PASSENGER VESSELS THE MUNSTER AND THE
LEINSTER, BOTH 4,115 TONS. ON THE CORK-FISHGUARD SERVICE A NEW INNISFALLAN 3,705
TONS WAS DELIVERED FROM DENNYS OF SCOTLAND.
IN 1959 THE B+I TOOK DELIVERY OF
THE LIFFEY DOCKYARD BUILT MEATH 1,550 TONS TO CARRY CATTLE AND SHEEP BETWEEN
DUBLIN-LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER. IN 1960 THEY ACQUIRED THE WICKLOW 600 TONS FOR
GENERAL CARGO.
WHEN THE IRISH GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER THE B+I IN 1965 (INCLUDING THE CITY OF CORK
STEAM PACKET CO.) IT CAME WITH 10 PASSENGER AND CARGO VESSELS OWNED BY THE
COMPANY. THESE INCLUDED THE MUNSTER-LEINSTER AND THE INNISFALLAN ALL BUILT
JUST AFTER THE WAR.
THE IRISH TRANSPORT MINISTER ESKINE CHILDERS (LATER PRESIDENT OF IRELAND)
APPOINTED NEW DIRECTORS WHO THEN SET ABOUT ORDERING NEW VESSELS TO REPLACE THE
THREE OLDER PASSENGER SHIPS.
THEY TOOK DELIVERY OF THE M.V.MUNSTER (5000 TONS-1000 PASSENGERS AND 220 CARS)
FROM THE NOBISKRUG YARD IN RENSBURG GERMANY IN 1968.THIS ORDER HAD BEEN
ORIGINALITY PLACED BY LOIN FERRY OF SWEDEN. THE INNISFALLAN (5000 TONS) FOLLOWED
FROM THE SAME YARD IN 1969, WITH THE LEINSTER (5000 TONS-1200 PASSENGERS-240
CARS) BUILT BY THE VEROLME DOCKYARD IN CORK USING THE NOBISKRUG PLANS AND
DELIVERED IN 1969.
THE FIRST SAILING BY THE NEW MUNSTER FROM LIVERPOOL, ON THE 15 MAY 1968 TOOK
6HR.30MINS. 3 HOURS QUICKER THAN THE PREVIOUS MUNSTER.
IN MAY 1969 THE INNISFALLAN BEGAN A NEW SERVICE FROM THE TIVOLI BERTH IN CORK TO
A NEW BERTH IN SWANSEA, AND THE LEINSTER STARTED ON THE DUBLIN-LIVERPOOL ROUTE
IN JULY 1969.
IN THE 1970s THE COMPANY'S FREIGHT SHIPS WERE OPERATING WELL. THE
KILKENNY-TIPPERARY-AND THE WICKLOW WERE RUNNING WITH CONTAINERS TO ROTTERDAM AND
FLEETWOOD WEEKLY. THE KILDARE TO LIVERPOOL AND THE CHARTERED NANOMARK TO LE
HAVRE.
IN 1978 THE COMPANY ORDERED A BOEING JETFOIL (257 SEATS) FOR THE DUBLIN LIVERPOOL
ROUTE. (THEY HAD THOUGHT OF USING HOVERCRAFT AND EVEN SET UP A COMPANY CALLED
IRISH SEA HOVERCRAFT.) IT BEGAN ITS SERVICE AS THE "CU NA MARA" IN
EARLY 1980 TAKING 3HR.-10MINS. AND MAKING TWO RETURN TRIPS A DAY.
BUT THE HIGH OPERATING COASTS AND LOW PASSENGER FIGURES COMBINED WITH HER
PERFORMANCE IN BAD WEATHER LED TO HER BEEN SOLD AND THE SERVICE SHUT DOWN. AS OF
APRIL 2002 SHE WAS STILL SAILING IN JAPAN AS THE GINGA BETWEEN NIIGATA AND SADO
ISLANDS.
ON THE 22 MAY 1979 THE M.V.CONNACHT (6,800 TONS—1,500 PASSENGERS—350 CARS)
WHICH HAD BEEN LAUNCED THE YEAR BEFORE FROM VEROLME DOCKYARD BEGAN A NEW SERVICE
TO PEMBROKE FROM CORK. THE INNISHFALLAN WAS SOLD TO CORSICA FERRIES AND RENAMED
CORSICA VIVA.
THE COMPANY THEN STARTED A ROSSLARE—PEMBROKE SERVICE WITH A SERIES OF
CHARTERED SHIPS INCLUDING THE VIKING 111 AND THE STENA NORDICA. THEY THEN SENT
THE CONNACHT ON TO THE DUBLIN-LIVERPOOL RUN AND SWITCHED THE LEINSTER ON TO THE
CORK RUN ON 3 SAILINGS A WEEK.
IN 1980 THE COMPANY ORDERED A NEW VESSEL FROM VEROLME DOCKYARD. A NEW LEINSTER
(6.900 TONS –1500 PASSENGERS AND 350 CARS.) TOOK UP THE DUBLIN-LIVERPOOL
SERVICE IN JULY 1981 UNDER THE COMMAND OF COMMODORE GERALD BARRY, WHO HAD ALSO
BEEN IN COMMAND OF THE MUNSTER-THE INNISFALLAN, THE LEINSTER 68 AND THE CONNACHT
ON THEIR MAIDEN VOYAGES.
(COMMODORE BARRY AGED 64 SADLY DIED IN 1982 A FEW HOURS AFTER RECEIVING A
RETIREMENT PRESENTATION ON BOARD THE LEINSTER IN LIVERPOOL, HE HAD BEEN AT SEA
47 YEARS.)
IN 1981 THE COMPANY REPORTED A LOSS OF 7.5 MILLION AND DECIDED THAT THEY HAD TO
RATIONALISE. ONE WAY THAT THEY ACHIEVED THIS WAS TO HAVE THE INNISFALLAN COVER
BOTH ROUTES TO AND FROM PEMBROKE.
IN 1981 THE COMPANY WANTED TO START A NEW SERVICE TO HOLYHEAD FROM DUBLIN,
BUT MET WITH A LOT OF OPPOSITION FROM THE SEALINK OWNED PORT. ON THE
2ND.MARCH 1981 THE SEALINK STAFF IN SMALL BOATS BLOCKED THE CONNACHT FROM
DOCKING AT HOLYHEAD, DOING THE SAME TO THE LEINSTER ON THE 9TH. THE CREW
OF THE MUNSTER THEN BLOCKED SEALINK'S ST.DAVID FROM DOCKING IN DUN-LAOGHAIRE.
EVENTUALLY THIS WAS RESOLVED AND A NEW SERVICE BEGAN BETWEEN DUBLIN AND
HOLYHEAD.
IN JANUARY 1983 THE COMPANY WANTED TO CLOSE THE CORK SERVICE BUT
FOLLOWING PRESSURE FROM THE IRISH GOVERNMENT THEY DECIDED TO KEEP IT GOING. THEY
CHARTERED THE SILJA LINES FENNIA TO COVER THE SUMMER SEASON, BUT BY THE END OF
THE SUMMER THEY HAD LOSS'ES OF £2 MILLION. THE SERVICE WAS THEN CLOSED DOWN.
THE MUNSTER WAS SOLD TO A COMPANY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND RENAMED FARAH 1, LATER
SHE WAS SOLD ON TO CHINA WHERE AS OF 1999 SHE WAS STILL SAILING AS THE TIAN
PENG.
IN 1983 THE B+I WERE FORCED TO MOVE THEIR PASSENGER SHIPS FROM TRAFALGAR DOCK TO
BROCKLEBANK DOCK BY THE MERSEY DOCK CO., WHO WERE LOSING £1 MILLION A YEAR
KEEPING TRAFALGAR OPEN. ON THE 18 OCTOBER 1983 THE CONNACHT MADE THE LAST
SAILING FROM TRAFALGAR WITH THE LEINSTER MAKING THE FIRST TRIP TO BROCKLEBANK.
IN 1985 BOTH B+I AND SEALINK AGREED TO SHARE RESOURCES AND REVENUE BETWEEN
THEM, IN THE HOPE OF MAXIMINING PROFITS AND CURTAILING LOSS. ON THE B+I SIDE THE
CONNACHT CONCENTRATED ON THE HOLYHEAD ROUTE WITH THE LEINSTER'S MORNING
DEPARTURE FROM DUBLIN TO LIVERPOOL AND A RETURN TRIP OVERNIGHT.
1986 SAW THE CLOSURE OF THE PEMBROKE-ROSSLARE ROUTE. A NEW SERVICE
ROSSLARE-FISHGUARD STARTED, RUN BY BOTH COMPANIES USING THE INNISFALLAN AND THE
ST.BRENDAN (EX.STENA NORMANDICA). THIS WAS MARKETED AS SOUTHERN SEAWAYS.
THE INNISFALLAN WAS SOLD TO STRINTZIS LINE AND RENAMED IONIAN SUN.
IN JANUARY 1987 ALL B+I SHIPS WERE LAID UP FOR 6 WEEKS BECAUSE OF AN OFFICERS
STRIKE OVER MANNING LEVELS.
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN B+I AND SEALINK ENDED WHEN B+I MAINTAINED THAT SEALINK HAD
BROKEN IT BY USING THE STENA SAILOR (EX.DUNDALK), FOR FREIGHT TO DUN-LAOGHAIRE
WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE USED DUBLIN.
ON TOP OF A DEFICIT OF £100M. THE COMPANY THEN DECIDED TO CLOSE THE LIVERPOOL
SERVICE, THE FISHGUARD ROUTE WITH SEALINK, AND START A NEW SERVICE TO PEMBROKE.
THE DUBLIN-LIVERPOOL LINK OF 152 YEARS ENDED ON THE 6TH.JANUARY 1988, WITH THE
CONNACHT MAKING THE LAST SAILING FROM DUBLIN.
SHE THEN MOVED TO ROSSLARE TO START THE NEW SERVICE TO PEMBROKE ON THE
12TH.JANUARY 1988.
AFTER THE SEASON ENDED THE CONNACHT WAS SOLD TO BRITANNY FERRIES AND RENAMED THE
DUCHESS ANNE. (LAST HEARD OFF AS THE DUBROUNIK WORKING THE ADRIATIC).
THE COMPANY THEN USED A SERIES OF CHARTERED SHIPS ON THE ROSSLARE ROUTE
INCLUDING:
ST.PATRICK 11—THE VIKING—EARL HAROLD—THE NORRONA—AND THE CRUISE MUHIBAH
WHICH THE COMPANY CHARTERED BAREBOAT FOR 2 ½ YEARS AND RENAMED THE MUNSTER.
IN 1990 THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO PRIVATISE THE COMPANY. BIDS CAME FROM IRISH
CONTINENAL GROUP, P+O, AND THE DANISH GROUP MAERSK.
ON THE 1ST.JANUARY 1992 THE COMPANY WAS TAKEN OVER BY IRISH CONTINENAL GROUP.
IN 1992 THEY CHARTERED THE STENA NAUTICA FOR THE ROSSLARE ROUTE, RENAMED HER THE
ISLE OF INNISFREE AND AT 20,000 TONS AND ABLE TO CARRY 1,840 PASSENGERS AND 410
CARS SHE WAS THE BIGGEST FERRY ON THE IRISH SEA.
IN 1993 THE INNISFREE WAS SENT ON TO THE DUBLIN-HOLYHEAD ROUTE AND THE LEINSTER
TO ROSSLARE. THE LEINSTER THEN HAD HER NAME CHANGED TO THE ISLE OF INISHMORE.
IN 1994 AN ORDER WAS PLACED WITH THE DUTCH YARD VAN DER GIESSEN-DE NOORD, FOR A
23,000-TON PASSENGER AND FREIGHT VESSEL TO REPLACE THE INNISFREE.
DELIVERED IN 1995 THE NEW ISLE OF INNISFREE HAD THE NEW COMPANY LOGO OF IRISH
FERRIES ON BOTH SIDES.
AND SO THE NAME B+I LINE WAS NOW GONE, A NAME THAT HAD LASTED FOR 159 YEARS.
©AIDEN
MC CABE
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Acknowledments and thanks to E.R.READER, H.P.SMYTH, F.FORDE,
SHIPS MONTHLY, AND IRISH FERRIES.
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