TSS Manxman

Turbine Steam Ship Manxman was launched from the Cammell Laird shipyard, Birkenhead on 8 February 1955. She was the final vessel in a class of six similar ships ordered by the Isle of Man Steam Packet, and was the second of the Company's ships to carry this name.

Sister ships

• King Orry: built 1945, she was withdrawn from service in 1975 and scrapped in 1979.
• Mona's Queen: built 1946, sold for use as a Mediterranean cruise liner in 1962. She was scrapped in Greece in 1981.
• Tynwald: built 1947, withdrawn and scrapped in Spain in 1974.
• Snaefell: built 1948, withdrawn and scrapped in 1978.
• Mona's Isle: built 1950, withdrawn and scrapped in 1980 in the Netherlands.
• Manxman: built 1955, withdrawn in 1982. Currently laid up in Sunderland

Operational history

Manxman’s maiden voyage took place on 21 May 1955, with a sailing from Douglas to Liverpool. From then on, she plied the routes from North West England and North Wales to the Isle of Man and Ireland.

In 1981, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company made a pre-tax loss of £620,000 and it was announced that 1982 would be the Manxman's last year in Steam Packet service. Her first sailing of the 1982 season was a 23.55 relief from Liverpool to Douglas on 28 May.

On 19 June 1982, the ship had been chartered by the Liverpool Co-Operative Society, but this booking was cancelled at quite short notice. The ship was therefore offered to the Manxman Steamer Society, who instead ran a Liverpool to Douglas day excursion entitled 'Steam All The Way'. On arrival at Douglas, passengers were able to travel by steam train to Port Erin on the Isle of Man Railway.

As the 1982 season began to near its end, Manxman began to attract increasing attention from the media, making appearances on both television and radio broadcasts, and in regional and national newspapers.

On 3 July, Manxman sailed from Ardrossan for the final time. This was followed by last sailings from Fleetwood on 15 August, Belfast on 27 August, and Dublin on August 28. On August 30, Manxman sailed 'light' from Douglas to Workington in preparation for a 10.15 sailing back to the Isle of Man. That evening, the return trip departed Douglas at 19.00 in foul weather. A Force 8 gale was blowing in the Irish Sea and it was not possible for the ship to berth safely in Workington. Manxman was forced to sail Northwards with over 1,000 passengers on board, and ride out the storm in the shelter of the Solway Firth. The ship finally docked at Workington at 09.00 the following morning, having given those on board a farewell trip they were unlikely to forget in a hurry. 1 September saw the final departure from Llandudno, and that evening the ship sailed light to Liverpool in preparation for what would be her penultimate public sailing.

At 09.35 on 4 September 1982, Manxman departed Liverpool with her last ever sailing for the Isle of Man Steam Packet: a charter to Douglas run under the name 'Finished With Engines'. Slipping from the landing stage stern first, she turned in the River Mersey before heading downstream towards the sea. Long salutes on the ships whistle were sounded as she passed fellow Steam Packet vessel Manx Maid still berthed at the landing stage, and also with the small excursion ship Royal Iris. Further towards the sea she passed Mona's Queen, a little further on Lady of Mann, and finally Ben-my-Chree. Sailing into Douglas, Manxman was greeted by many small ships which had sailed out to greet her. Passengers were able to enjoy 5¹⁄₂ hours ashore before the advertised 18.30 departure, her last sailing from the Isle of Man.

A dismal evening departure with drizzle and mist seemed to match the mood of many on board as Manxman left Douglas behind for good. With the Onchan Silver Band playing, and a flotilla of small vessels once more accompanying her, she set sail for Liverpool one last time. At sea, the weather improved dramatically, and she sailed under clear skies and a bright moon with the lights of North Wales and North West England visible on the shore. After arrival, Manxman was to be laid up at Birkenhead pending a decision on her future.

On 21 September 1982 it was announced that TSS Manxman had been saved from the scrap man, and had been purchased by Marda (Squash) Ltd. for a sum in the region of £100,000. The company intended for her to be the centrepiece of a new leisure complex at Preston Docks. Manxman was to be sailed there under her own steam, a final outing in passenger service. She departed her berth at Birkenhead at 08.28 on 1 October, sailing the short distance to Liverpool Landing Stage where she moored. On 3 October, with passengers paying £12.50 for a single ticket, and with beer on sale at 1955 prices (10p per pint), Manxman departed Liverpool at 09.07. She berthed at Preston at 12.45 and 'finished with engines' was rung on the ships telegraph at 12.48.

Decline

Following withdrawal from revenue service, and relocation to Preston Docks, Manxman's new owners intended to convert her into a floating museum and visitor centre. This venture was not a success, and the ship was subsequently developed into a floating nightclub and restaurant. While in Preston docks she was used as a location for the film 'Yentl' with Barbara Streisand. She also featured in a Granada series called 'Scramble' with Richard and Judy (before they were an item) the show provided help to people setting up businesses.

Redevelopment of the Preston docks area once again made the Manxman homeless, and she was towed to Liverpool in 1991 where once again she was to be used as a floating nightclub in the Trafalgar Docks area.

In 1993 she was again moved, this time to Hull, being moored in the disused Ruscador Dry Dock. Here, a fire which broke out in August 1997 seriously damaged many of the vintage wood panels of the ships interior, and she was moved to the yard of Pallion Engineering Company Ltd. on the River Wear, in the shadow of the Queen Alexandra Bridge in Sunderland, where she remains to this day inside Pallion DRY DOCK. Images of her present state in dry dock at Pallion can be seen at http://www.shipsofmann.org.uk/Manxman.htm. (info provided by Keith Lloyd 270210) Pallion on numerous occasions had threatened to scrap this vintage vessel. Manxman was finally broken up in April 2011.

Preservation campaign

A preservation group, The Manxman Steamship Company has been formed with the aim of securing the historic ship, the last of her line, and the last remaining classic British passenger turbine steamer. She is also the last surviving passenger ship constructed by Cammell Laird.

A charity cruise on board the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's Lady of Mann took place to raise funds for the Manxman.

Numerous celebrities have been known to support The Manxman Steamship Company, including Paul O'Grady, Tom O'Connor and Ken Dodd.

It was announced in March 2010 that the S.S. Manxman is to be dismantled in Pallion shipyard very soon.

January 2011 and the ship is currently being dismantled in Pallion shipyard.

Technical specifications

• Boiler: 2 × Babcock and Wilcox water tube boilers.
• Operating Boiler Pressure: 340 p.s.i.
• Main Engines: 2 × Pametrada (Parsons and Marine Engineering Turbine Research and Development Association) Steam Turbines, each developing 4,250 s.h.p.
• Rotor speed: 4290 r.p.m.
• Gearing: double reduction.
• Propeller speed: 275 r.p.m.
• During sea trials on the River Clyde on 12 May 1955, TSS Manxman achieved the speed of 21.95 knots.
• Passenger certificate: the original passenger certificate issued on 19 May 1955 was for 1049 1st Class and 1344 3rd Class passengers. In 1967 the vessel was converted to single class accommodation with a certificate for 2032 passengers and 60 crew.

References

• Danielson, Richard and Hendy, John (1983) The Manxman Story: J Stephenson & Sons Ltd. ISBN 0-901314-22-6
• Danielson, Richard and Hendy, John (1983) Faithfully Yours, Manxman: J Stephenson & Sons Ltd. ISBN 0-901314-23-4

External links

• Records of Manxman Steamship Company, are available at Yahoo Group named ssmanxman (free to join)
• Feature on 'Manxman' on BBC Inside Out website
• 'Manxman' to be dismantled - BBC News, April 2010