Manx Enterprise - Hasty purchase - Costly mistake

The Mona’s Isle (VI) was the Steam Packet’s reply to Manx Line and its successful roll on-roll off service to Heysham. Its acquisition by Sealink UK Ltd, and the subsequent merger of both operators, forced the Steam Packet’s hand into the purchase of the former English Channel vessel Free Enterprise III.

This was a ship which had quickly been superseded by far larger vessels as competition on the French routes became more intense. Renamed Mona’s Isle, her major conversion for Manx use proved to be a disaster with serious deadweight problems preventing her from carrying the loads required in order to operate at a profit.

Entering service in April 1985, she was withdrawn in October – the Steam Packet’s shortest-lived ship. A5. 96 pages. Published 28th September 2026.