Built by Fairfields at Govan in 1891, Tynwald was the first Isle of Man Steam Packet Company vessel fitted with a triple-expansion engine. She was launched on Monday, 11 May 1891; for the first time in the Company's history the builders' specification included full installation of electric lighting.
Tynwald had a certificate for 679 first class passengers and 225 third, a total of 904, and a crew of 50.
Tynwald had a registered tonnage (GRT) of 937. Length 265 feet (81 metres) between perpendiculars; beam 34 feet (10 metres); depth 14 feet; and a speed of 18 knots. Her two boilers had a steam pressure of 160 PSI (1.1 megapascals) and each boiler was fired by eight furnaces. She had bunker capacity of 120 tons of coal. The two sets of triple-expansion engines developed 3,800 indicated horsepower (equivalent to 2.8 megawatts) at 120 rpm.
Service life
Tynwald made her first appearance in Douglas on 27 June 1891. Fast for her size, she could hold her own with the Queen Victoria.[3] In 1900 when racing with the Queen Victoria against an opposition steamer the Lily,Tynwald arrived at Liverpool four minutes ahead of the Queen Victoria and eleven minutes ahead of the Lily.
Tynwald was designed and built as a winter vessel on the Douglas - Liverpool service, and in the summer on general duties which included the newly introduced Douglas — Ardrossan run. In July 1912, she inaugurated a service from Douglas and Ramsey to Whitehaven
Tynwald lends assistance to Mona's Isle which had run aground at Scarlett Point, September 1892
She was fast aground for two days, and was re-floated after assistance from Tynwald, her passengers having previously been landed onto the rocks by way of a rather precarious ladder from her bows.[4]
On 6 April 1893, while at anchor in the Mersey, she was run into by the steamer Lotus and extensively damaged. In 1912, she opened a service from Douglas to Whitehaven calling at Ramsey, and was also used as a winter vessel on the main home run.
First World War
Tynwald did not serve as a military vessel during the First World War, but instead, continued as a commercial vessel.
She shared the Douglas — Liverpool home run with Fenella throughout the war. Under the command of Capt. Cojeen,[6] she had a number of close encounters with floating mines but was never hit; the minesweepers worked day and night to keep the approaches to Liverpool open.
Officers, Engine Room Staff and Deck Crew of Tynwald, 1928. Capt J.J. Qurik (pictured centre).
However, on many occasions her sailings had to be postponed, owing to special danger from mines. One of the Liverpool pilot-boats struck a mine just outside the Formby Lightship. The boat was blown to pieces, and some forty people died, including 26 first-class Liverpool pilots. The Tynwald probably passed this mine several times in the course of her usual work.[6]
On 9 April 1917, a German submarine had penetrated to within a few miles of Liverpool and succeeded in torpedoing the American liner SSCity of New York. The Tynwald, inward bound from Douglas, was just passing the Bar Light Ship[6] and was quickly on the scene. The weather at the time was far from good, a strong wind blowing with showers of snow at intervals. The passengers were conveyed in the liner's own lifeboats, which came alongside the Tynwald, and, although the sea was distinctly lumpy, causing a considerable rise and fall of the lifeboats, all were safely taken on board, including Admiral Sims of the U.S. Navy.[6]
During the transfer of the passengers, three or four patrol steamers and tug-boats came to the liner's assistance. The damage to the SSCity of New York was in the fore part of the vessel, and, as the bulkheadabaft where she was struck remained intact, the ship was able to float, although the forward compartments were full of water.
On another occasion, Tynwald left Douglas at 14:00hrs, landed her passengers and mails at Liverpool, and then returned to Douglas light. Tynwald then sailed again the next morning at 09:00, and upon arrival at Liverpool, having completed three trips and taken in coal, she was told to return to the Landing Stage with all speed.
On another occasion, having arrived at Liverpool Landing Stage, Tynwald was ordered, after discharging mails and passengers, to take coal as speedily as possible. Upon completion of coaling, she embarked divers and other workmen of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board along with their equipment, and made passage straight back to the Island.
News had come through that the White Star steamer RMSCeltic had been torpedoed, with the loss of many lives, off the Calf of Man, and was then anchored off Peel, carefully guarded by Destroyers. With all speed the Tynwald proceeded to Peel Breakwater, and there landed the men and their gear. The Celtic was speedily patched up, and taken to Harland and Wolff's works at Belfast.
Commerce to and from the Port of Liverpool routinely suffered owing to the port being closed due to perceived enemy activity. On one such occasion, when the Tynwald arrived at the Bar (about 18:45), she had to dodge about with her passengers aboard all that night, and until 19:00hrs the next day, with the constant danger of striking a mine, or of encountering a submarine.
The Tynwald continued in service, summer and winter, right through the War, except when undergoing survey and repairs. She came through unscathed. She carried no guns, was never camouflaged, but was painted as usual, black with red funnels.[6]
On Friday 13 November 1925, the Tynwald fouled the anchor chain of another vessel as she prepared to berth alongside the Prince’s Landing Stage. Damage was sustained to the Tynwald'sscrew as a consequence of which she missed her scheduled sailing to Douglas, requiring the Mona to undertake the schedule.
It was intended to scrap her in 1933, but these arrangements were cancelled and she was purchased in 1934 by Mr. R. A. Colby Cubbin for conversion into a private yacht. In 1935 she was renamed Western Isles, but spent several years lying in the King George V Dock, Glasgow.
Second World War
Western Isles was requisitioned by the Admiralty as an auxiliary in April 1940. On 27 October 1941, she was renamed Eastern Isles and used as an accommodation ship at HMSEaglet in Birkenhead until 27 April 1946.[7]
Post war
Eastern Isles was returned to her owner in 1947 who was faced with an unviable bill for £100,000 (equivalent to £4,162,466 in 2021) in order to put her back into service.
Disposal
In 1951, Eastern Isles was sold and taken in tow by the tugAirman to Spezia for breaking. She left Birkenhead at 07:30hrs on Wednesday, 13 May 1951.[5]
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Limited is the oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company in the world, having been founded in 1830.
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SS (RMS) Tynwald (I), No. 21921, was an iron paddle-steamer which served with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and was the first vessel in the Company to bear the name.
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SS (RMS) Mona (III), the third ship of the Company to bear the name, was a steel paddle-steamer which was originally owned and operated by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway Company, who then sold her to the Liverpool and Douglas Steamship Company, from whose liquidators she was acquired by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in 1903.
SS (RMS) Mona's Isle (III), No. 76304, the third ship in the company's history to be so named, was a paddle steamer which served with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company until she was purchased by The Admiralty in 1915.
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