{"product_id":"manx-enterprise-hasty-purchase-costly-mistake","title":"Manx Enterprise - Hasty purchase - Costly mistake","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eMona’s Isle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e (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,\u003ca name=\"_GoBack\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and the subsequent merger of both operators, forced the Steam Packet’s hand into the purchase of the former English Channel vessel \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eFree Enterprise III\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis was a ship which had quickly been superseded by far larger vessels as competition on the French routes became more intense. Renamed \u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eMona’s Isle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, 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order to operate at a profit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eEntering service in April 1985, she was withdrawn in October – the Steam Packet’s shortest-lived ship. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eA5. 96 pages.\u003cstrong\u003e Published 28th September 2026. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ferry Publications Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54620298281299,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0881\/7714\/8243\/files\/ManxEnterprise.jpg?v=1787060088","url":"https:\/\/ferrypublications.co.uk\/products\/manx-enterprise-hasty-purchase-costly-mistake","provider":"Ferry Publications Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}