SS Ellan Vannin (1854) "Ellan Vannin" proceeded across to the new pier where she was opened to the general public. The "Ben-my-Chree", which was returning to Douglas following a pleasure cruise around the Island passed close by and greeted the "Ellan Vannin" by firing two guns. The "Ellan Vannin" entered service under the command of Captain Joseph Skillicorn, an experienced mariner who prior to his appointment had been in the employ of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company serving on the "Mona's Queen with the rank of First Officer. Mainly the "Ellan Vannin" would ply between Castletown, Isle of Man and Whitehaven, Cumberland
SS Ellan Vannin (1883) "Fenella" in order to undergo her rebuild, on Friday 19 January 1883. Rebuilt in 1883, her size was increased to 375 gross register tons and her speed to . She was renamed (the Manx translation for "Mona's Isle") on 16 November 1883, following her conversion to a propeller-driven ship. "Ellan Vannin" was a twin-screw vessel driven by a two-cylinder compound steam engine made by Westray, Copeland and Co. at Barrow. Her boiler pressure was raised to . She was capable of carrying 300 passengers and normally had a crew of 14. "Ellan Vannin" primarily operated out of Ramsey to Whitehaven,