TSS MANXMAN’s Final Hour? — Updated
British Turbine Steam Ship MANXMAN is reportedly soon to be demolished. MANXMAN was launched from the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, February 8, 1955. She was the last vessel in her class of six similar ships ordered by the Isle of Man Steam Packet. Her sisters KING ORRY, MONA’S QUEEN, TYNWALD, SNAEFELL and MONA’S ISLE were all scrapped from 1974 onward. MANXMAN remains laid up in Sunderland but with the threat of being scrapped very soon.
TSS MANXMAN’s maiden voyage took place May 21, 1955, from Douglas, Isle of Man to Liverpool. Her regular route saw her sailing from North West England and North Wales to the Isle of Man and Ireland. In 1982 it was announced that the service would be withdrawn. In the Autumn of 1982 the ship’s future looked bleak until she was bought to be converted into a floating museum and visitor center at Preston Docks, however, this venture was not successful, and the ship was subsequently opened as a floating nightclub and restaurant. Later dock development forced the relocation of the ship and she was towed to Liverpool in 1991 and once again opened as a floating nightclub in the Trafalgar Docks area. In 1993 MANXMAN was towed to Hull, being moored in the disused dry dock. In August 1997 a fire broke out seriously damaging ships interior, she was then moved to the yard of Pallion Engineering Company Ltd. on the River Wear in Sunderland, close to the Queen Alexandra Bridge, where MANXMAN remains today.
A preservation group, The Manxman Steamship Company formed with the aim of securing the ship. Then a new Trust emerged to save the ship, The SOS Manxman Co charity, however in March 2010 it was announced that the S.S. MANXMAN was to be dismantled in the Pallion shipyard.
A facebook page has been formed with links to petitions, news and photographs
Please visit: S.S MANXMAN. The OFFICIAL group supporting restoration of the Manxman
For further reading check out www.shipsofmann.org.uk
Special thanks to Nigel Robinson, Mark Sven Woodford, Daniel Craig, Dave Worth, Tom Phillips and the SS MANXMAN facebook page
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Still a beauty despite her sad state. Hope she can be preserved, would be nice to have another little jewel on the to-visit-list :o)
Let’s just hope it’ll not be too expensive…
I understand from contacts who have discussed the matter with Pallion Engineering (Sunderland) in a last-gasp effort to try and find a solution (not the SOS Manxman group, but in contact with them), that asbestos removal has now been completed and the yard are going straigt on to demolition. The report is that the ship has deteriorated considerably in the jast year, asbestos removal has compounded that, her back is understood to be about broken and Pallion advise that a rescue is no longer technically feasible. This group were seriously interested in finding a new role for Manxman but have given up because of the advice given by Pallion. Even had a rescue been attempted a few years ago, the problem was that there was no available place ro put her. Only a restoration to working order would have been possible if she was to be in the Liverpool area. Restoration to static operation would have cost many millions of pounds and to operational status probably more than 10 million. Now it is not feasible at all. The last od her particular class worldwide will be gone within weeks I am afraid.
I am still working on a last gasp attempt to save paddle steamer Lincoln Castle from imminent breaking up – see news report on MM from a few weeks ago. This is still a realistic project if a number of things fall into place which will persuade the owner to call off the breakers.
Shes the last of the last and likes of her will never be seen again. A true lady with style!
I pray everyday that somehow she is saved and preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Jim S
PLEASE NO !!
SAVE THIS LINER !!!!!!!!!
WHAT A SMART LITTLE SHIP. Looks alot like the Caldonian Macbraye vessel that became the Hebridian Princess in older form.
Is it an ocean liner or packet.
Not that it matters, I want her to be saved, but I was curious.
Andy / Hank
No! Not a liner, but a packet and a short sea ferry as described in the article on routes now served by car ferries ( by the same company which has served the area for around 150 years) as it was by paddle steamers etc in the early years.
If you do want to save this ship I am afraid it is going to have to be down to you
Steam packet ships have been thought of as the little cunard liners, the Manxman should have been saved but even her second home Liverpool turned there back on her. Perhaps part of her could be saved for a maritime musuem depending how in tacked perhaps some of her engine room or even her bridge could be restored and saved. At least part of her may live on? As a steam packet lover it brings tears to my eyes on what could have been if she had been saved. If her back is broken then so is is her soul may she rest in peace.
Ok thanks
Sadly there is precious little left of her bridge; just the binnacle (empty), the lockers on the aft bulkhead and the switchgear. Similarly the engine room has now lost virtually all that was copper or brass.
The Manxman Steamship Company (a charitable trust ) was formed in 2002 to seek her restoration and achieved many major steps. It is all documented on the Yahoo Group called ssmanxman. Please join (it is free) and includes many reports and surveys over recent years together with original layout drawings and many photos.
Her continued deterioration will have significantly increased the estimated £7.5 million as a static operation, that would now be in excess of £10m and restoration of propulsion (probably as diesel electric) would be many more millions
Bill,
Not surprised about missing items. cost of restoration is to much but would be nice to see her sail again. If some one can help now is the time.
what a sad day, just learned the manxman will soon be no more.. another piece of maritime history gone forever.. i am so saddened by the news.. i had some really great time on that little ship.. alan.
I am french lover of this kind of ” small “liner as was the Brittany or the Falaise from the Southern railways i remember when i was a child in St Malo and Jersey. It is sad that she will disappear but anyway hoping !
I have sent mesages with out reply to Pete Waterman The dock co in kent. If you know any other person that might have some sort of influence that might holt the cutting up of this fine craft then get on with it. Would any one know how to contact Richard Branson. He wanted to run concorde at a loss so put it to him good look.
kind regards
simon in Morecambe
Hi everyone I have just spoken to paillion were the manxman is and it is now being scrapped what a shame
The MANXMAN is gone. It’s time to save the ships and boats of the ADLS, like the MEDWAY QUEEN. Turn to!
J. Mc Guire
Brewster, N.Y.
Scrapping did not get underway in earnest until June 2012 but as of today, all superstructure has gone and she is flat at promenade deck level
Very sad. Met my wife aboard when it was a nightclub in Preston in 1986.
During Manxman’s demolition many items were collected for use in restoration of the pilot vessel Bembridge at Szczecin (Poland). That work has been completed.
When Manxman’s earlier sister the King Orry was scrapped on the Medway in 1979 the National Maritime Museum are understood to have purchased her starboard turbines, auxiliary machinery, a propeller and one of her three boilers. The items were put into storage at Chatham Dockyard, the intention being to put them on display later at Greenwich.
Can anyone remember the name of the agency that provided tradesmen to work on the conversion of this vessel in 1982 ? The agency was believed to have been run by Luke Haines. The name of the Greek owner company at the time could also be useful.