SS Snaefell (1876)

For other ships with the same name, see Snaefell (ship).

Snaefell at the Coffee Palace berth, Douglas, Isle of Man
History
Name	Snaefell
Owner	1876–1904: IOMSPCo.
Operator	1876–1904: IOMSPCo.
Port of registry	Douglas, Isle of Man
Builder	Caird & Co. Greenock
Cost	£28,250 (equivalent to £3,356,631 in 2023).
Way number	67289
Launched	27 April 1876
Completed	1876
In service	1876
Out of service	1904
Identification	Official Number 67289 Code Letters Q W S P
Fate	Disposed of 1904
Status	Scrapped
General characteristics
Type	Paddle Steamer
Tonnage	849 gross register tons (GRT)
Length	251 ft 3 in (76.6 m)
Beam	29 ft 3 in (8.9 m)
Depth	14 ft 1 in (4.3 m)
Installed power	1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	Two oscillating diagonally opposed engines, developing 1,700 shp (1,300 kW)
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

SS (RMS) Snaefell (II) No. 67289 – the second vessel in the line's history to be so named – was an iron paddle steamer which was owned and operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

Construction & dimensions

Snaefell was built at the yards of Cairn & Co., Glasgow, in 1876. Her builders also supplied her engines and boilers and she was launched on Thursday 27 April 1876.

Her purchase cost was £28,250; she had a registered tonnage of 849 GRT; length 251'3"; beam 29'3"; depth 14'1". Snaefell's engines developed 1,700 shp (1,300 kW) and gave her a service speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

In 1885, Snaefell received new boilers at a cost of £8,512 (equivalent to £1,161,347 in 2023). They were produced by Fawcett, Preston & Company of Liverpool and installed by Jones & Sons Ltd.

In 1895, she was fitted with electric lighting. The cost of the installation was £425 (equivalent to £62,008 in 2023).

Service life

Snaefell pictured departing Ramsey, with troops embarked.

A smaller vessel then her immediate predecessors, but judged successful none-the-less, Snaefell served the many ports to which the Company then operated.

In April 1881, she was involved in a collision with the Osprey off Douglas Head.

In August 1892, she was making passage to Ardrossan from Douglas in hazy weather, when she collided with the Norwegian vessel Kaleb. Both ships were damaged, but the Snaefell was able to continue to the yards of Fairfield & Co. under her own steam for repairs. The subsequent repairs cost £1,298 (equivalent to £178,296 in 2023). A legal wrangle then ensued, and finally the High Court in Edinburgh held that both ships were to blame.

The Royal Netherlands Steamship Company, who had bought Snaefell (I) and had successfully operated her for 13 years, sometimes chartered Snaefell (II).

Disposal

After 38 years successful service to the line, Snaefell was disposed of in 1904.

References

Bibliography

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