In 1985, P&O sold its ferry operations to European Ferries before returning to the market in 1987 with its takeover of European Ferries the same year, this time employing the P&O European Ferries brand.
В 1996 году группа "P&O European Ferries" была разделена на три подразделения: "P&O Portsmouth", "P&O North Sea" и на совместное с группой "Stena AB" предприятие "P&O Stena Line".