I remember taking this ferry from Sheerness to Vlissingen in February 1981. My wife and I had bought tickets through Magic Bus to get to Europe as cheaply as possible (12 pounds, I think). The diversion by train from London to Sheerness to meet a ferry was an unscheduled means to transport passengers from the usual route via Folkestone or Dover. ESPRESSO OLBIA was chartered at the time by Olau Line from Trans Tirreno Express Line of Italy. An uneventful pleasant night-time crossing.

Many thanks for posting this picture. I have good memories of those days when new Olau vessels sailed in. I made a lot of B/W pictures of Espresso Olbia and visited the vessel when layd-up as in your picture. Do you perhaps have some more of these stuff.
Thanks again !
A.J. van Gelder - Middelburg / Holland