She served Western Ferries faithfully from late August 1974 until 1989, latterly being relegated to carrying cement tankers to Faslane while the new Trident submarine base was under construction.

She had served Western Ferries well – but no longer had a viable role in the fleet due to her age and small capacity.

Britain's earliest example of a VSP driven ferry, Sound of Sanda failed to attract a suitable home for preservation.

[3] Sound of Sanda lay for a number of years in Holy Loch, on a mooring belonging to Western Ferries and was eventually sold to Donald Harper of Oban for use as a fish farm support vessel.

She left the Clyde in March 1994 and was deliberately beached at Taynuilt on the shore of Loch Etive, to allow work to be carried out.