SS Ellan Vannin (1854) via Peel and onwards to the north of Ireland. It would appear that the vessel was being utilised to her maximum. Sailings to Whitehaven and Liverpool were maintained whilst sailings to Glasgow and from Liverpool to Dundrum via the Isle of Man were introduced. However it would seem that the company continued to sustain losses over the winter of 1857-58, and by March 1858 it had been decided to put the "Ellan Vannin" up for sale by public auction. She was sailed to Trafalgar Dock, Liverpool on 6 March, where she was laid up awaiting sale. She was offered for
SS Ellan Vannin (1854) the result being a dead heat. Subsequently the "Ellan Vannin" sailed down the channel as far as the Bell Buoy and back, during the course of which her speed was gauged by Captain Ponsonby on board the "Mobile". A two knot tide was running against her, however the "Ellan Vannin" covered the distance from the Northwest Lightship to the Rock Lighthouse in 1 hour 12 minutes. Luncheon was then served, the directors being joined by John Laird who had been on deck observing the trial. The "Ellan Vannin" made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Castletown on Tuesday 1 August,