MS Stena Pioneer
Encyclopedia
MS ANT 1 was a ro-ro ferry
operated by Stena Line
between Larne
, Northern Ireland and Fleetwood
, England. The ferry didn't carry passengers but it is mainly freight that is carried.
, the vessel was sold before entering service to P&O
subsidiary Pandoro.
To cope with the increased traffic on the Fleetwood – Larne route the Bison was sent to the River Tyne
in 1980 for lengthening. The vessel was cut in two and a new 15-meter section added.
In 1989 the Bison was chartered to B&I Line for four years and placed on the Dublin – Liverpool
route.
On return from her B&I Line charter the Bison was rebuilt to meet the latest SOLAS
requirements. This involved adding sponsons increasing the vessels breadth by 4 meters. Following this rebuilding the vessel's seakeeping
was badly affected. To cure this the Bison was sent to Cammell Laird
in 1995 to have additional weight in the form of an extra vehicle deck added to the stern.
In 1998 Pandoro merged with P&O European Ferries (Felixstowe Ltd.) to create P&O Irish Sea
. The Bison was renamed European Pioneer
In 2004 the ship passed into the hands of Stena Line. and was renamed Stena Pioneer.
In December 2010 the Stena Pioneer was laid up following the closure of the Fleetwood - Larne route. The Pioneer was sold to a Russian operator in June 2011 and renamed ANT 1.
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
operated by Stena Line
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
between Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
, Northern Ireland and Fleetwood
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
, England. The ferry didn't carry passengers but it is mainly freight that is carried.
History
The Stena Pioneer was built in 1975 as the Bison. Initially ordered by Stena LineStena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
, the vessel was sold before entering service to P&O
P&O
P&O may refer to:* Pickling and oiling raw steel.* Phosphate conversion coating and oiling aluminium, zinc, cadmium, silver, or tin.-Shipping:* Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, a former British shipping and logistics company....
subsidiary Pandoro.
To cope with the increased traffic on the Fleetwood – Larne route the Bison was sent to the River Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
in 1980 for lengthening. The vessel was cut in two and a new 15-meter section added.
In 1989 the Bison was chartered to B&I Line for four years and placed on the Dublin – Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
route.
On return from her B&I Line charter the Bison was rebuilt to meet the latest SOLAS
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea is an international maritime safety treaty. The SOLAS Convention in its successive forms is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships.- History :The first version of the...
requirements. This involved adding sponsons increasing the vessels breadth by 4 meters. Following this rebuilding the vessel's seakeeping
Seakeeping
Seakeeping ability is a measure of how well-suited a watercraft is to conditions when underway. A ship or boat which has good seakeeping ability is said to be very seaworthy and is able to operate effectively even in high sea states....
was badly affected. To cure this the Bison was sent to Cammell Laird
Cammell Laird
Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company...
in 1995 to have additional weight in the form of an extra vehicle deck added to the stern.
In 1998 Pandoro merged with P&O European Ferries (Felixstowe Ltd.) to create P&O Irish Sea
P&O Irish Sea
P&O Irish Sea was the trading name of P&O Ferries in the Irish Sea from 1998 - 2010. It has now merged back to being P&O Ferries.-History:P&O Irish Sea was formed in 1998, following the merger of the Cairnryan-based service of P&O European Ferries Ltd and Pandoro...
. The Bison was renamed European Pioneer
In 2004 the ship passed into the hands of Stena Line. and was renamed Stena Pioneer.
In December 2010 the Stena Pioneer was laid up following the closure of the Fleetwood - Larne route. The Pioneer was sold to a Russian operator in June 2011 and renamed ANT 1.