The Lune Bridge outward in the River Lagan for Heysham. © Alan Geddes.
Built	1972, Ankerløkken Verft A/S, Florø, Norway.
Length OA	108.31 metres
Breadth OA	21.04 metres
Draught (loaded)	4.93 metres
GRT	1585
NRT	591
Deadweight	2640
Service speed	16.5 knots
Passengers	12
Cars	--
Freight	870 metres

In April 1975 Sealink closed the Heysham - Belfast car ferry service operated by the sisters Duke of Lancaster and Duke of Argyll. An effort to maintain the link between the two ports was made a few months later when, in a joint venture with the Belfast Steamship Co (P&O) the Ro-Ro ferry Penda was introduced. Joining the Penda in 1978 was the former Stranraer vessel Dalriada.

In January 1980, in an effort to boost the struggling service, the Penda and the Dalriada were both replaced by two larger and newly chartered Ro-Ro ferries; the Lagan Bridge and the Lune Bridge. Each ship operated six nights a week, offering sailings in each direction. Regular weekend sailings on the Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire service were also offered between their scheduled Heysham crossings. Both ships dated from 1972 and in fact the 'Lagan' had seen previous Sealink service on charter at Fishguard as the Ilkka.

Despite the high hopes for the Heysham service brought on by the introduction of the two ships the downward spiral continued and on 13th December 1980 the route was closed and the ships returned to their owners.