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sea.Utilising a selection of rare and previously unpublished images,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.