At 429 gross register tons she was considered, by some, as too big and unsuitable for local seas (the same happened when the second Scillonian went into service in 1956 and again with Scillonian III in 1977).
The vessel of 429 gross register tons was viewed by some as excessively big and unfit for local coastal navigation, an assessment that was also made when the second Scillonian began operation in 1956 and again when Scillonian III entered service in 1977.