SS Magnetic
History
United Kingdom
Name
  • SS Magnetic (1891–1932)
  • SS Ryde (1932–1935)
Owner
Port of registryLiverpool (1891–1923)
BuilderHarland and Wolff, Belfast
Yard number269
Launched28 March 1891
In service6 June 1891
FateScrapped in 1935
General characteristics
TypePassenger tender
Tonnage619 GRT
Length170 feet 6 inches (51.97 m)
Beam32 feet 11 inches (10.03 m)
Speed13.5 knots (25.0 km/h)

SS Magnetic was a passenger tender of the White Star Line built in 1891. She was laid down at the Harland and Wolff Shipyards in Belfast, Ireland. Magnetic was sold to a different company in 1932 and renamed Ryde, and scrapped in 1935.

Career

Model of Magnetic at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool
Postcard of Magnetic alongside RMS Baltic

Magnetic was built by Harland and Wolff and launched on 28 March 1891, being delivered to her new owners on 6 June 1891.[1] She was based at the Port of Liverpool and upon her completion, used mainly to take passengers to White Star's various ocean liners. However, she was also used as a water carrier, tow boat, tug and Mersey cruise boat. She was present at the 1897 Spithead Review as tender to White Star's Teutonic.[2]

When the White Star Line completed the Royal Mail Ship Baltic in 1903, Magnetic was used almost exclusively as her tender. Magnetic is pictured beside RMS Olympic in a photograph including Olympic′s sister ship RMS Titanic at their second and last meeting.

From 1891 to 1932, Magnetic served with the White Star Line. On 17 February 1915, she collided with the schooner Kate in the Crosby Channel; Kate sank with the loss of three of her four crew members.[3] On 3 October 1925 a fire broke out on board Magnetic, and she was beached and later repaired at Liverpool.[2] She was then sold by White Star in December 1932 to the Alexandra Towing Company, of Liverpool.[4] Now renamed Ryde, she resumed her usual duties and was present at the opening of No.2 Stanlow Oil Dock in the Manchester Ship Canal in 1933.[2] She was based at Llandudno from 1934, and was used as an excursion steamer. She was sold to ship breakers on 20 October 1935 and was scrapped at Port Glasgow.[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magnetic (ship, 1891).
  1. ^ "Harland and Wolff Ships Index". The Nomadic Preservation Society. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "THE WHITE STAR LINE". The Merchant Navy Association. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 40781. London. 18 February 1915. col F, p. 18.
  4. ^ "White Star Line / Oceanic Steamship Company / White Star Line of Boston Packets". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
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