Sealink-Holyhead: St Columba

Belfast Lay Up

On April 5 1997, the 20th anniversary of St Columba's departure from Aalborg on her delivery voyage to Holyhead, news broke of a possible sale to Agapitos Express Ferries of Greece. Before the ship left for warmer climes I paid a final visit to her in UK waters. April 18 revealed her new owners already onboard, familiarising themselves with would become their new ship. In the company of Capt Peter Lockyer I wandered from stem to stern. It seemed so strange to walk around the ship, quiet now, knowing my crossings of the Irish Sea would never be the same. For not only was the ship leaving, but so too were the people who manned who. A community was breaking up. As Capt Lockyer and I left the ship later that day for the drive south to Dun Laoghaire I looked back and said goodbye. On May 9, renamed Express Aphrodite, the ship left Belfast and the Irish Sea for the last time.

The Stena Adventurer alongside at Dun Laoghaire during her final week, October 1996.	During her final weeks in service, the ship berthed stern to at Dun Laoghaire to enable Duty Free stores to be loaded by way of her derrick.	Laid up at Belfast pending delivery to her new Greek owners, 18th April 1997.
Belfast	A view of the foc'sle, looking across to the Stena Galloway.	The wheelhouse.
The forward staircase on Deck 6, formerly A Deck.	The 'Hibernia Lounge', port side forward on Deck 6.	The Business Lounge, formerly the 'Verandah' sheltered accommodation, port side aft.
The 'Irish Bar' aft on Deck 5, once the 'Lansdowne Road Bar', port side looking aft.	The 'Irish Bar' looking forward.	Once the preserve of rows of comfortable aircraft-style seating, the A Deck port-side lounge was incorporated into The Pantry on Deck 6 in 1991.
Another former side lounge; the 'Pizza Factory' on Deck 5 / B Deck.	A crew member's view.	A passenger's view of the foc'sle.
The forward viewing deck.	The aft mooring deck.	The Verandah Deck, showing the aft wheelhouse and duty free stores gantry.
The aft wheelhouse.	A view of the bridge deck from atop the aft wheelhouse.	Yours truly!
A final view.	Chief Officer John McKenna makes a final log entry.	The former St Columba's final Sealink Master, Capt Peter Lockyer, lowers the Red Ensign.

Under the Greek flag, the Stena Adventurer awaits renaming.