The ship was chartered by Brittany Ferries from 17 April 1978 initially to sail on the Portsmouth-Santander route.
ðə ʃˈɪp wʌz tʃˈɑːɹɾɚd baɪ bɹˈɪtəni fˈɛɹiz fɹʌm sˈɛvəntˌiːn ˈeɪpɹəl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt ɪnˈɪʃəli tə sˈeɪl ɔnðə pˈoːɹtsməθsˈæntændɚ ɹˈaʊt.