The Atlantic Steam Navigation Company was founded in 1934 with the original object of providing a no-frills transatlantic passenger service. A combination of difficult economic conditions and then World War II frustrated these early ambitions.
In 1946 the opportunity was taken to lease war-surplus LSTs from the Admiralty and start the world's first roll-on roll-off ferry service. Starting with military charters returning materiel from Europe to England the company progressed to providing commercial services across the Irish Sea and then across the North Sea. In 1971 the company was acquired by European Ferries.
History
Genesis of the company The company was founded in 1934 by Frank Bustard, the Passenger Traffic Manager for the White Star Line when the latter was merged with the Cunard Line the same year. The original idea was to set up a low cost line providing cheap passages between Europe and the United States. He first attempted to purchase a number of surplus vessels from the Red Star Line but was unsuccessful. He then approached Vickers Armstrong with designs for two new ships. However the government of the day was not keen on a new company operating on the North Atlantic in competition with Cunard White Star and Bustard was not able to raise a loan from the Bank of England to finance construction. The onset of World War II saw Bustard called up to the Army Reserve and his plans went into abeyance. During the war he was present at trials of landing craft loading and unloading vehicles on the sands of New Brighton.
Post World War II After demobilisation, Bustard tried again to implement his transatlantic plans but there were no suitable ships available and no chance of raising finance for a new build. Instead he turned his thoughts to the use of surplus LSTs as vehicle ferries on the short sea routes across the North Sea. After lengthy negotiations with the Admiralty he succeeded in chartering 3 LSTs, 3519, 3534 and 3512. The ships needed modifications to engines, boilers and navigational aids as well as improved accommodation. The maiden voyage of ASN took place on 11 September 1946 when LST3519, now renamed Empire Baltic, sailed from Tilbury with 64 new vehicles for the Dutch Army for delivery in Rotterdam. The company continued to ferry thousands of military vehicles across the North Sea via Hamburg. In 1955 the terminal was transferred from Hamburg to Antwerp.
In 1948 ASN acquired another LST which became the Empire Doric and was used to inaugurate a commercial service between Preston, Lancashire and Larne. Early cargoes included a contract to carry 200 prefabricated houses, lorries loaded with glass from Pilkington's, and a circus. This was the first commercial roll-on roll-off ferry service in the world. It proved so successful that in 1950 the Empire Gaelic was acquired to operate a new service between Preston and Belfast.
In 1952, ASN were chosen to manage a fleet of 12 LSTs for the War Department, operating in the Middle and Far East. They were deployed to Japan during the Korean War. This arrangement continued until 1961 when the operation transferred to the British-India Steam Navigation Company.
Nationalisation In April 1954 ASN was nationalised and came under the auspices of the British Transport Commission. With the dissolution of the BTC in 1962 the company was transferred to the Transport Holding Company. In 1968 it became part of the National Freight Corporation, subsequently being sold to European Ferries in 1971.
Suez Crisis
In late 1956 the entire fleet was sent to Mediterranean during the Suez Crisis. ASN had to charter in a number of ships to maintain the freight services from Preston. Initially three British coasters were acquired to be replaced by four German ships for the rest of the war. Vehicle services were not resumed until January 1957. At the same time ASN were responsible for the operation of 12 LSTS that had been recommissioned for the duration of the war. These were known as the Seabird class.
Post Suez
In 1957 ASN ordered their first new ships, Bardic Ferry and Ionic Ferry in a rolling programme to replace the original fleet of LSTs. The ships were designed to carry both vehicles and container traffic, being equipped with their own electric cranes to handle the latter. In addition the main car deck was strengthened to take tanks in the event of the vessels being required for military service. The first of the LSTs to be withdrawn was the Empire Cedric in 1959. The last was the Empire Nordic which survived until 1966. The rest having gone by 1963.
In 1961 ASN started offering container services from Preston to various ports across the Irish Sea using a number of chartered vessels. Starting with parallel services to Larne and Belfast they expanded to serve Drogheda, Dublin and, briefly, Waterford.
In 1965 ASN moved its North Sea base from Tilbury to the expanding port of Felixstowe which reduced the crossing time by half.
In 1969 the founder of the company, Lt-Colonel Frank Bustard was made a Freeman of Larne.
Routes 1946 - 1965 Tilbury - Rotterdam 1946 - 1955 Tilbury - Hamburg 1948 - 1971 Preston - Larne 1950 - 1971 Preston - Belfast 1955 - 1968 Tilbury - Antwerp 1961 - 1971 Preston - Drogheda 1963 - 1971 Preston - Dublin 1964 - 1966 Preston - Waterford 1965 - 1971 Felixstowe - Rotterdam 1968 - 1971 Felixstowe - Antwerp
Fleet
Chartered from Admiralty
The ships names commemorated White Star Liners.
ShipIn serviceNotesSS Empire Baltic1946–1962ex LST 35191946–1959ex LST 35341946–1960ex LST 3512SS Empire Doric1948–1960ex LST 30411950–1960ex LST 35071955–1962ex LST 3010, ex HMS Attacker1955–1966ex LST 3026, ex HMS Charger
Managed ships for RASC 1952–1961, named after distinguished RASC officers.
ShipNotesex LST 3021. Scrapped 1968.ex LST 3037. Scrapped 1963.ex LST 3001, sold 1966 and renamed Pacific Pioneer. Scrapped 1968ex LST 3509ex LST 3024, Sold and renamed Fredrege Isabel in 1968. Scrapped in 1969ex LST 3009. Scrapped 1966.ex LST 3028, renamed Elbano Primo
Managed ships for the War Office
Mobilised for the Suez Crisis in late 1956.
ShipNotesSS Empire Curlewex LST 3042, ex HMS Hunter. Scrapped 1962.ex LST 3524, ex HMS Trumpeter. Scrapped 1969.ex LST 3006, ex HMS Tromso. Scrapped 1968.ex LST 3038, ex HMS Fighter. Scrapped 1968.ex LST 3525, ex HMS Walcheren. Scrapped 1968.SS Empire Gullex LST 3523, ex HMS Trouncer. Scrapped 1980.ex LST 3510, ex HMS Slinger. Scrapped 1969.ex LST 3520, ex HMS Thruster. Scrapped 1968.ex LST 3015, ex HMS Battler. Sold 1960 and scrapped 1966.ex LST 3033, chartered by Townsend Bros in 1959. Scrapped 1963.ex LST 3517, ex HMS St Nazaire. Scrapped 1968.ex LST 3504, ex HMS Pursuer. Scrapped 1968.
New ships The ships names again reflected ASN's White Star Line heritage. ShipIn ServiceNotes1957–1976Sold, renamed Nassim II1958–1976Sold, renamed Kamasin, renamed Tamerlane1961–1981Sold, renamed Atlas I, renamed Sifnos1962–1981Sold, renamed Atlas II, renamed Captain Alexandros1964–1985Scrapped 19881965–1968ex USS LST1081, ex USS Pima County. Sold and renamed Sable Ferry, renamed Nickel Ferry1966–1974ex USS LSD11, ex HMS Cutlass, ex HMS Northway, ex City of Havana.1967–1993Requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1982 for use in the Falklands War. Renamed European Freighter, sold and renamed Afrodite II, renamed Ajman Glory. Scrapped 2005.
Chartered ships
Suez Crisis ShipServiceOwnerNotesSt KildaAug-Sep 1956J & A GardnerCliffvilleAug 1956 - Jan 1957John S MonkA R RawallSep 1956IrishKapt Jan ReineckeSep 1956 - Jan 1957J.A. ReineckeWest GermanFidentiaSep 1956 - Jan 1957Metcalfe Shipping Company LtdHeinrich LorenzSep 1956 - Jan 1957West GermanMary Robert MüllerOct 1956 - Jan 1957Robert MüllerWest German
Preston container services ShipOwnerNotesElisaA C Hoffex BiscayaGoodwillA C HoffPriorA C Hoffrenamed TrinitasStream FisherJames Fisher & SonsGoodwill TraderA C HoffNoachA C HoffGoodwill MerchantA C HoffInniscaraBritish and Irish Steam Packet CompanyIrishBay FisherJames Fisher & SonsRace FisherJames Fisher & SonsFrisoDutchFriendshipLoch EtiveLoch LinnheIrishLeven FisherJames Fisher & SonsEden FisherJames Fisher & SonsRiver FisherJames Fisher & SonsFirth FisherJames Fisher & SonsDerwent FisherJames Fisher & SonsClipperA C HoffFastnetJan KlugkistDutchGoodwill TravellerA C HoffCurranShamrock Shipping LtdMoyleShamrock Shipping LtdCambrian CoastCoast LinesBarbel BoltenAuguste BoltenOrwell FisherJames Fisher & SonsCoriaDammers & van der HeideSolway FisherJames Fisher & SonsMarietta BoltenAuguste BoltenLindaDammers & van der HeidePoole FisherJames Fisher & SonsOwenglasHuelin Renouf Shipping ServicesGuernsey FisherJames Fisher & Sons
Maintenance cover The following ships were chartered from Townsend Thoreson to cover the overhaul period of ASN's ships. ShipYears1966, 19671965
References
Notes
Bibliography