In 1914, the Viking was one three Fleetwood ships requisitioned for conversion to seaplane carriers. She was renamed the Vindex and returned safely after four years’ service in the Mediterranean.

Her sister ship, the Ben–my-Chree, was not so lucky. She was sunk in 1917 by Turkish gun batteries under Churchill’s failed attempt to capture the Dardanelles.

The Viking was ‘borrowed’ again in 1939 as a landing ship infantry, where she took part in the D-Day landings. She was broken up and sold for scrap in 1954.

Following the Second World War, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company had again lost another ship but continued its service from Fleetwood, despite the neighbouring Belfast service being transferred to Heysham. It was recorded that during this time, the service was carrying over 350,000 people from Fleetwood each year.

Although the service still proved popular throughout the 1950s, the Packet took the decision to return the service to a one-ship operation, with the 1945-built Mona’s Queen running for over a decade.

In 1961, port authorities refused to meet the cost of replacing the 116-year-old Fleetwood landing stage and the Isle of Man service was immediately axed. There were no ferry operations for much of the 1960s until the advent of the ‘groovy’ 70s saw Isle of Man boats doubling for local nightclubs.