Cowal was the last vessel to receive the new Caledonian MacBrayne livery, retaining the vivid CSP yellow funnel until 1974.

Increasingly forlorn and cannibalised for parts to keep Arran running, Cowal was finally sold to Phetouris Ferries in Greece on 5 January 1979, and left under tow for Perama on 15 May.

Despite the tow parting in the Bay of Biscay, she arrived in Piraeus, and was advertised, as Med Star, to take up service across the southern Adriatic, from Otranto to Igoumenitsa.

She was fitted with electric hoists and side-ramps to allow the loading of vehicles from conventional piers and at any state of tide.

She inaugurated the regular Wemyss Bay to Rothesay car ferry service, on 1 October 1954 and remained in the upper Clyde for her whole career.

From 1974 to 1977, she assisted with a contract to service Sir Robert McAlpine's oil platform construction yard at Ardyne.