SS Ben-my-Chree (1927)

Ben-my-Chree
History
Isle of Man
Name	Ben-my-Chree
Owner	1927–1965: IOMSPCo.
Operator	1927–1965: IOMSPCo.
Port of registry	Douglas, Isle of Man
Builder	Cammell Laird
Cost	£200,000
Yard number	926
Laid down	November 1926
Launched	5 April 1927
Maiden voyage	29 June 1927
In service	July 1927
Out of service	13 September 1965
Homeport	Douglas
Identification	Official number: 145304 Code Letters G N D B [1]
Nickname(s)	The Ben
Fate	Sold to Van Heyghen Freres of Antwerp. Taken under tow by tug Fairplay XI from Birkenhead Saturday 18 December 1965. Arrived at Bruges 23 December; for breaking.
General characteristics
Type	Passenger Steamer
Tonnage	2,586 GRT
Length	355 ft 0 in (108.2 m)
Beam	46 ft 0 in (14.0 m)
Depth	18 ft 6 in (5.6 m)
Propulsion	2 × Parson's single-reduction geared turbines, working at 220 pounds per square inch (1,500 kPa), developing 10,300 shp (7,700 kW)
Speed	22.5 knots (25.9 mph)
Capacity	1st class passengers: 1642 2nd class passengers: 944
Crew	82

TSS (RMS) Ben-my-Chree (IV) No. 145304 – the fourth vessel in the company's history to be so named – was a passenger ferry operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company between 1927 and 1965.

Ben-my-Chree was built in 1927 at the Cammell Laird shipyard, Birkenhead. She was the first steamer built after World War I for the Steam Packet Co.

Upon the ordering of the vessel by the Steam Packet, a contracted cost of £185,000 was agreed. However, early construction was then held up by the long coal strike of 1926. Steel had to be purchased from Continental sources, and her keel was not laid until November of that year.