MV Munster was built in 1968 and operated initially for the British and Irish Steam Packet Company (B+I Line).
The ship was initially ordered by the Scandinavian Lion Ferries but was purchased by B+I Line before completion for operations on the Dublin to Liverpool route.
[1] The original intended owners had specified a strengthened hull to operate through ice, and McNeill noted her as the only "ice-capable" regularly on the Irish Sea in her era.
[1] The top speed of 22 kn (41 km/h) from four diesel engines allowed the ship to make the daytime crossing from Dublin Port to Carriers' Dock, Liverpool in 7 hours.
[3] The ship was sold to Dalian Steamship of China in 1991 and renamed Tianpeng.