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Private company

Belfast Car Ferries

Belfast Car Ferries was an Irish Sea ferry company that operated a passenger and freight roll-on/roll-off service between Northern Ireland and England.2 It was founded in 1982.1 It ceased to exist in 1990.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1982Founded1
  • HeadquartersBelfast1

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Saint colum i belfast
Photo: Albert Bridge, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

Belfast Car Ferries was an Irish Sea ferry company that operated a passenger and freight roll-on/roll-off service between Northern Ireland and England.2

The story

Belfast Car Ferries was formed in 1982 following P&O Ferries' withdrawal from the Liverpool–Belfast route in November 1981. Sailings commenced in May 1982 using the Saint Colum I. The vessel sailed every night from Belfast, returning during the day from Liverpool. The crossing time was 9 hours.

On 14 November 1984 the Irish Government placed parent company Irish Shipping Ltd into liquidation. In March 1987 Irish Shipping Ltd was sold to a consortium of investors and restructured as Irish Continental Group.

Belfast Car Ferries continued operations until October 1990. The Saint Colum I quickly found a new Greek owner and entered service in the Adriatic Sea.

In 1991 the Liverpool – Belfast link was reopened by Norse Irish Ferries.

From Wikipedia’s article on Belfast Car Ferries, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Products and brands

During its eight years of operation the Belfast – Liverpool route was operated mainly by the Saint Colum I. Several vessels, including the Saint Patrick II, Saint Killian II and Gotland were chartered to cover for the Saint Colum I during overhaul.

From Wikipedia’s article on Belfast Car Ferries, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 1990Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1982Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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