Saint Eloi
The French flag, British owned Saint Eloi at Salt Island on 25th April 1989. © Capt Ray Veno
 A new Saint Eloi in 1975. © Roy Thornton Collection |
 The Saint Eloi at Dover. © Roy Thornton Collection |
Having previously completed relief duties at Stranraer the Saint Eloi arrived at Holyhead on 4 April 1989 to stand-in for the St Columba. Her accommodation was, to put it mildly, a mess, forcing the cancellation of her first round trip to Dun Laoghaire.
The Saint Eloi at Dun Laoghaire spring 1989. © Justin Merrigan
Having been cleaned up, complaints about her dull and spartan appearance began flooding in and on one passage sixteen protesting passengers staged a 'sit-in' in the Master's cabin.
 Saint Eloi enters Holyhead stern first with Capt John Sinnott in command. © Capt Neville Lester |
 Saint Eloi berths at Salt Island, watched by Capt Lester's son Richard. © Capt Neville Lester |
When the St Columba returned on 27 April there was a collective sigh of relief. The Saint Eloi was dispatched to dry dock at Falmouth for a much needed refit, from which she emerged renamed Channel Entente.
The Channel Entente leaves Dover for Calais, summer 1988. © Roy Thornton Collection
She was acquired by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in February 1990 for whom she quickly proved herself to be a reliable and comfortable ship as their King Orry.
As the King Orry, leaving Dublin for Douglas in ballast after an emergency relief sailing from Liverpool in place of the SuperSeaCat Two, summer 1998. © Justin Merrigan
In October 1998 the King Orry was sold to Italy's Moby Line and renamed Moby Love.