SS Ben-my-Chree (1875)

Ben-my-Chree berthed at the Red Pier, Douglas
History
Name:	Ben-my-Chree
Owner:	1875-1906: Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
Operator:	1875-1906: IoMSPCo.
Port of registry:	Isle of Man
Builder:	Barrow Shipbuilding Company, Barrow-in-Furness
Cost:	£38,000
Launched:	6 May 1875
Maiden voyage:	1875
Out of service:	1906
Identification:	Official Number 67288 Code Letters P K F Q [1]
Fate:	Scrapped at Morecambe, 1906
Status:	Scrapped
General characteristics
Type:	Packet Steamer
Tonnage:	1,020 increased after re-fit to 1,192 gross register tons (GRT)
Length:	310 ft 9 in (94.7 m)
Beam:	31 ft 9 in (9.7 m)
Depth:	13 ft 9 in (4.2 m)
Installed power:	2,300 shp (1,700 kW)
Propulsion:	Paddle wheels
Speed:	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).
Crew:	Not Recorded.

SS (RMS) Ben-my-Chree (II), No. 67288, was an iron paddle-steamer which served with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and was the second vessel in the Company to bear the name.

Dimensions

Painting of Ben-my-Chree prior to her 1884 refit.

Ben-my-Chree had an original tonnage of 1030, but this was increased to 1192 after a refit.

Length 310 ft 9 in (94.7 m); beam 31 ft 9 in (9.7 m); depth 13 ft 9 in (4.2 m); speed 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph); indicated horse power 2,300 shp (1,700 kW).

Ben-my-Chree was launched at Barrow-in-Furness on Sunday, May 6th, 1875.

She was fitted with two oscillating two-cylinder engines of 65 inches diameter, with a 90 inch stroke.

Service life

Ben-my-Chree berthed at the Victoria Pier, Douglas.

Built by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company, Barrow-in-Furness in 1875, Ben-my-Chree was the largest ship built for the Company to that date.

Originally designed with a service speed of 14 knots, it was subsequently found that Ben-my-Chree operated two knots below this speed, despite modifications to her boilers.

Reboilered in 1884, she was altered to carry four funnels, in pairs fore and aft of the paddle-boxes. This made her the only four funnelled vessel in the history of the line.

Disposal

After an uneventful career of 31 years, Ben-my-Chree was sold for scrap and broken up by T. W. Ward and Company at Morecambe, in 1906.

Gallery

RMS Ben-my-Chree
Ben-my-Chree berthed at the Victoria Pier, Douglas (circa 1888)  Ben-my-Chree laid up at the Tongue, Douglas, prior to her 1884 refit

References

1. Ships of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (Fred Henry) p.66

Bibliography

• Chappell, Connery (1980). Island Lifeline T.Stephenson & Sons Ltd ISBN 0-901314-20-X