SS Ellan Vannin (1854) the £14,000 reputed to have been available in 1856) a sum which the directors and shareholders present would not accept. Again the "Ellan Vannin" resumed revenue service whilst further attempts were made to find a buyer. The "Ellan Vannin's" final excursion took her across to the coast lines of County Louth and County Down via Carlingford Lough on 25 June, before she left the Isle of Man for good. Finally the Directors of the Castletown Steam Navigation Company (by now in serious financial difficulties) managed to find a buyer. "Ellan Vannin" was sold to Cunard & Wilson who were acting
SS Ellan Vannin (1883) passage – something which would have caused her master no particular concern. However, the weather rapidly worsened and by 06:35hrs, when the ship arrived at the Mersey Bar lightship, the wind had risen to a Hurricane Force 12, and waves were reported to be exceeding in height. A strong consensus at the time was that with a following sea the "Ellan Vannin" had made good time to the Bar Lightship. Upon reaching the Bar her course would have been changed from approximately 130 degrees to 080 degrees as she entered the approach channel to the river. This would have caused