Builders: Cammel Laird & Co Ltd Birkenhead 1927
Propulsion type: 4 steam turbines
Owners: Isle of Man Steam Packet Co Ltd
Service dates: 1927 - 1965
Tonnage: Gross 2586
Comments:
This magnificent picture, with an inset of her captain, Capt. Cain, comes from the W E Groom collection and has been kindly supplied by his grand daughter, Victoria.
Launched on 5 April 1927, this magnificent steamer was the first new ship for the IOM company since the end of the First World War. Built of steel and to a new design, she was powered by four steam turbines which generated a net horse power of 1745 and a speed of around 23 knots. She had very good facilities, although had limited open deck space due to the sometimes inclement nature of the weather during her crossings from Liverpool. She saw service as a troop carrier in the Second World War and returned to service afterwards until 1965, when her name was changed to Ben-my-Chree II to allow her name to be given to her successor, a new car ferry. She last left Liverpool in December 1965 under tow to Belgium, where she was broken up at Ghent.