SEALINK

Sealink UK Ltd, a wholly owned company of the British Rail Board, was founded on 1st January 1979. The company had a short existence, being sold July 1984 to Sea Containers under the Thatcher government's policy of privatisation. Another sale saw the bulk of Sealink British Ferries' operations pass to Sweden's Stena Line on 31st May 1990 and the dropping of the Sealink brand on 31 December 1995.

THE CREWS

 

The finest of ships, manned by the finest of people; maintaining the link between Britain and Ireland.

THE SHIPS

 

Although the Sealink brand had been in use since the early 1970's, it was not until 1979 that it became a company in its own right. The brand was applied to ship's hulls during their refits in 1972/73.



The Sealink years were a time of transition, not only in privatisation, but for the fleet also.  Starved by a lack of investment the changeover from steam to diesel and car ferry to Ro/Ro was a slow process. Nevertheless, it saw the arrival of a number of new ships, as well as the departure of many old friends as they sailed over the horizon to the breakers yards.

CAPTAIN LEN EVANS

 

Captain Evans served over 48 years at sea, 25 of which were in command – making him the most senior master in the Sealink fleet at the time of his retirement in 1986. 

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Dedicated to the welfare of seafarers he was closely involved with the care of retired seafarers and their dependants at the Mariners’ Park complex in Wallasey and the Union’s charitable functions, chairing the Welfare Funds Committee from 1985 to 1999.