Saint Eloi

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The Saint Eloi

Dover's trainferry Saint Eloi, at Dun Laoghaire on overhaul relief duties for the St Columba spring 1989. © Justin Merrigan

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. 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. 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. 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. In October 1998 she was sold to Italy's Moby Line and renamed Moby Love.

A new Saint Eloi in 1975. © Roy Thornton Collection	The Saint Eloi © Roy Thornton Collection	The Saint Eloi © Roy Thornton Collection
In SNCF colours, the Saint Eloi off Dover. © Justin Merrigan Collection	Saint Eloi enters Holyhead stern first with Capt John Sinnott in command. © Capt Neville Lester	Saint Eloi berth's at Salt Island, watched by Capt Lester's son Richard. © Capt Neville Lester
Renamed Channel Entente © Roy Thornton Collection	The Channel Entente leaves Dover for Calais, summer 1988. © Roy Thornton Collection	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

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