due to a downturn in freight traffic p&o ferries laid up the ship in tilbury in may 2010. she was chartered to dfds seaways in august 2010 and early september 2010 to provide refit cover on the birkenhead–dublin and belfast routes. on completion of this charter the ship was sent for its annual overhaul and then proceeded to dunkerque for layup. she remained in dunkerque until early february 2011 when she sailed for liverpool in preparation for returning to service on the liverpool-dublin service replacing the m/v norcape.