The Darnia

Stranraer's Darnia at Dun Laoghaire covering for a fire damaged St Columba, February 1990. © Justin Merrigan 

Built in 1977 as the Stena Topper this ship was immediately acquired by British Rail for Stranraer - Larne service.  Renamed Darnia she was a sister to the Stena Timer which would see service at Holyhead during 1979 and 1980. As a freight carrier she offered accommodation for just 75 passengers, however in 1982 she was converted to carry up to 412 passengers. Additional superstructure was fitted immediately forward of her funnel and gave her a reputation for being somewhat tender. A regular visitor to Holyhead's drydock during the late 1970's and early 1980's, it was not until the St Columba was disabled by an engine room fire at the end of January 1990 that the Darnia would see service on the Dun Laoghaire crossing. The ship was far from successful in service at Holyhead and she made only two round trips over a five day period due to gales. Later that year she was sold by Stena Line to Nordstrom & Thulin.

In 2001 the ship was operating in Guadeloupe as the Neptunia but she spent increasingly long periods laid up with continuing engine trouble. On 13th July 2007 she left Fort de France, Martinque under tow bound for Turkish breakers and the beaches at Aliaga.