SS Magnetic
British passenger tender (1891–1935)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SS Magnetic was a passenger tender of the White Star Line built in 1891. She was laid down at the Harland & Wolff Shipyards in Belfast, Ireland. Magnetic was sold to a different company in 1932 and renamed Ryde, and scrapped in 1935.
- SS Magnetic (1891–1932)
- SS Ryde (1932–1935)
- White Star Line (1891–1932)
- Alexandra Towing Company (1932–1935)
SS Magnetic | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Port of registry | Liverpool (1891–1923) |
| Builder | Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Yard number | 269 |
| Launched | 28 March 1891 |
| In service | 6 June 1891 |
| Fate | Scrapped in 1935 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger tender |
| Tonnage | 619 GRT |
| Length | 170 feet 6 inches (51.97 m) |
| Beam | 32 feet 11 inches (10.03 m) |
| Height | 48 feet 6.28 inches (14.79 m) |
| Draft | 7 feet 3.8 inches (2.23 m) |
| Speed | 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h) |
Career
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]
From January[3] 1912 until March, Magnetic was reboilered and had a general overhaul. After this work was completed, she was pictured beside RMS Olympic in a photograph including the Olympic sister ship RMS Titanic at their second and last meeting, before running sea trials for two days before returning to service in Liverpool.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6] 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]
