In 1983, she was reduced to a floating pontoon and used in the salvage of the semi-submersible drilling rig Alexander L. Kielland before being scrapped later that year.

Essex Ferry was built by John Brown & Company, Clydebank as yard number 694.

In 1983, Essex Ferry was sold to Medway Secondary Metals for breaking, departing under tow for Rainham, Kent on 27 April 1983 and arriving two days later.

[6] She was initially reduced to deck level and renamed Essex Ferry Pontoon.

She was used in the salvage of the Norwegian semi-submersible drilling rig Alexander L. Kielland which had capsized in March 1980.