Pontus - The Floating Terminal
Pontus was a floating terminal facility built for Silja Line by Rauma Yards, Finland in 1991 named after a pre-Titanic and pre-Olympian sea-god, one of the Greek primordial deities in Greek mythology.
PONTUS had been designed to function as passenger and vehicle terminal as well as a linkspan. As originally designed to be installed at a sheltered location the terminal had been secured by four dolphins allowing it to rise and fall with the tide. Vehicle access was via a wide gangway which was linked the to the land by a wide floating gangway. On reaching the open read deck of PONTUS vehicles turned 90 degrees to access the stern door of the ro/ro vessel. Silja Line used PONTUS in Tallinn, both at the Old City Harbour and at Muuga.
Sea Containers had acquired a controlling interest in Silja Line at the start of the millennium and decided to bring PONTUS from the Baltic to Liverpool to resolve a delay in developing improved terminal facilities at Liverpool Pier Head for their Isle of Man Steam Packet operation which then operated to Douglas and Dublin. An upgrade to the Pier Head facilities had been stalled by local objections to relocate the “Heroes of The Marine Engine Room” (Titanic) Memorial. As a solution Sea Containers announced that PONTUS would be brought to the Mersey and berthed at the Isle of Man Steam Packet Landing Stage. A publicity photograph which appeared in the local press showed PONTUS berthed at the north end of the stage with its bow pointing down river. To locate the dumb barge in this location would not really have been practical without some substantial engineering work.
When PONTUS arrived in May 2000 berthing trials were undertaken immediately though it wasn’t possible to actually put it alongside the stage as the dolphin securing points had yet to be removed. After the berthing trial PONTUS was taken to Langton Dock where work was undertaken to prepare it for service. PONTUS returned to the Pier Head in September 2000 and secured alongside the south end of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Stage it opened for use by car drivers and their passengers as well as Blue Riband Club members soon afterwards. PONTUS was not available for ordinary foot passengers who continued to use the waiting facilities which were located on the current Liverpool Cruise Terminal check-in site.
The accommodation block ground floor comprised baggage reclaim / customs facilities (not used at Liverpool), a ticket / reception desk, toilets, refreshment counter and lounge. Upstairs was reached by an open staircase this gave access to the Blue Riband Members’ Lounge which gave a good view of the river a small kitchen was provided for members to make drinks; remainder of the upstairs comprised office and refreshment for staff. I recall that the air conditioning on PONTUS was not too good. The accommodation had a peculiar, slightly musty smell and the toilets which were in board appeared to have not proper ventilation and were often smelly despite being apparently clean.
At the end of the 2004 season, by which time the financially ailing Sea Containers had disposed of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to Montagu Private Equity, PONTUS had been towed away and berthed in Sandon Dock pending disposal. A few months later in early 2005 the southern section of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Landing Stage to which PONTUS had been berthed began to sink. The section was quickly towed away by tugs to Canada #2 Branch Dock for repairs. Unfortunately, before these could be completed the section sank and remains there to this day. PONTUS was sold and towed away in autumn 2005 it was believed for conversion to a freight carrying barge which would see the superstructure removed. However, I have not been able to trace what actually happened to it. If anyone knows more of the fate of PONTUS I would be please to update these notes.
Read MorePONTUS had been designed to function as passenger and vehicle terminal as well as a linkspan. As originally designed to be installed at a sheltered location the terminal had been secured by four dolphins allowing it to rise and fall with the tide. Vehicle access was via a wide gangway which was linked the to the land by a wide floating gangway. On reaching the open read deck of PONTUS vehicles turned 90 degrees to access the stern door of the ro/ro vessel. Silja Line used PONTUS in Tallinn, both at the Old City Harbour and at Muuga.
Sea Containers had acquired a controlling interest in Silja Line at the start of the millennium and decided to bring PONTUS from the Baltic to Liverpool to resolve a delay in developing improved terminal facilities at Liverpool Pier Head for their Isle of Man Steam Packet operation which then operated to Douglas and Dublin. An upgrade to the Pier Head facilities had been stalled by local objections to relocate the “Heroes of The Marine Engine Room” (Titanic) Memorial. As a solution Sea Containers announced that PONTUS would be brought to the Mersey and berthed at the Isle of Man Steam Packet Landing Stage. A publicity photograph which appeared in the local press showed PONTUS berthed at the north end of the stage with its bow pointing down river. To locate the dumb barge in this location would not really have been practical without some substantial engineering work.
When PONTUS arrived in May 2000 berthing trials were undertaken immediately though it wasn’t possible to actually put it alongside the stage as the dolphin securing points had yet to be removed. After the berthing trial PONTUS was taken to Langton Dock where work was undertaken to prepare it for service. PONTUS returned to the Pier Head in September 2000 and secured alongside the south end of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Stage it opened for use by car drivers and their passengers as well as Blue Riband Club members soon afterwards. PONTUS was not available for ordinary foot passengers who continued to use the waiting facilities which were located on the current Liverpool Cruise Terminal check-in site.
The accommodation block ground floor comprised baggage reclaim / customs facilities (not used at Liverpool), a ticket / reception desk, toilets, refreshment counter and lounge. Upstairs was reached by an open staircase this gave access to the Blue Riband Members’ Lounge which gave a good view of the river a small kitchen was provided for members to make drinks; remainder of the upstairs comprised office and refreshment for staff. I recall that the air conditioning on PONTUS was not too good. The accommodation had a peculiar, slightly musty smell and the toilets which were in board appeared to have not proper ventilation and were often smelly despite being apparently clean.
At the end of the 2004 season, by which time the financially ailing Sea Containers had disposed of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to Montagu Private Equity, PONTUS had been towed away and berthed in Sandon Dock pending disposal. A few months later in early 2005 the southern section of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Landing Stage to which PONTUS had been berthed began to sink. The section was quickly towed away by tugs to Canada #2 Branch Dock for repairs. Unfortunately, before these could be completed the section sank and remains there to this day. PONTUS was sold and towed away in autumn 2005 it was believed for conversion to a freight carrying barge which would see the superstructure removed. However, I have not been able to trace what actually happened to it. If anyone knows more of the fate of PONTUS I would be please to update these notes.
