[1] On 8 October 1960,[3] Lochiel hit submerged rocks in West Loch Tarbert, Argyll and sank.

Re-fitted on the Mersey, she emerging as Norwest Laird and had a short career operating between Fleetwood and Douglas.

Late in 1974, she was acquired by Courage (Western) Ltd and was towed to Hayle in Cornwall, to be renovated for use as a floating bar and restaurant in Bristol.

To cope with the shallow West Loch Tarbert, she was flat bottomed, resulting in much pitching and rolling in even slight seas.

Although built for the Islay service, Lochiel started her career at Oban on the secondary Fort William schedule, until the pier at West Loch Tarbert was modified for her length and draught.

This was increasingly inconvenient and provided an opening for Western Ferries to operate an Islay service from Kennacraig.

[2] In January 1970, the 1954 former Clyde car ferry MV Arran took over the MacBrayne Islay service and Lochiel was retired.