SS Douglas (1889)

Career
Name:	Douglas (formerly SS Dora)
Owner:	1889–1901: London and Southwestern Railway Company. 1901-1923: IOMSPCo.
Operator:	1889–1901: London and Southwestern Railway Company. 1901-1923: IOMSPCo.
Port of registry:	Douglas, Isle of Man
Builder:	Robert Napier & Co.
Cost:	Not Recorded. Purchased by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for £13,500
Yard number:	94515
Laid down:	Not Recorded.
Launched:	Not Recorded.
Maiden voyage:	Not Recorded.
In service:	1889
Out of service:	1923
Fate:	Sunk in the River Mersey following a collision with the SS Artemisia 16 August 1923.
General characteristics
Type:	Packet Steamer
Tonnage:	774 gross register tons (GRT)
Length:	240'
Beam:	30'
Depth:	15'2"
Ice class:	N/A
Speed:	15 knots.
Capacity:	506 passengers.
Crew:	33.

SS Douglas (III) - the third vessel in the line's history to bear the name - was a packet steamer which entered service with the London and Southwestern Railway Company in 1889 under the name Dora until she was purchased by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in 1901 for £13,500.

Construction & dimensions

Douglas was a steel built; single-screw vessel constructed by Robert Napier & Co. of Glasgow. She had a registered tonnage of 774 GRT; length 240'; beam 30'; depth 15'2". Douglas had a certificated accommodation for 506 passengers and a crew of 33. Napier's were also responsible for her engines and boilers.

Service life

The Douglas was a departure in Steam Packet practice. Until 1901 all its ships had been ordered and built for it, with the exception of the two eminently suitable vessels Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria which had been bought in after their owners had unsuccessfully tilted at the Manx trade. The Douglas however, was a straight purchase to fill the gap left when the Peveril (I) was sunk in 1899. The ship had been working the Southampton service to the Channel Islands and was thus very well suited to the Irish Sea trade.

In November 1903, she collided with, and sank, the steamer City of Lisbon in the Mersey. Douglas was used for winter services to and from the Island, and throughout the First World War, playing a valuable part in maintaining the Island's lifeline.

Sinking

On 16 August 1923, Douglas pulled out of the Brunswick Dock in the River Mersey at the start of her voyage to Douglas. As she proceeded down river towards the sea, she attempted to cross the bows of the Artemisia, a ship of 5,731 tons which was inward bound to Liverpool with a cargo of sugar from Java. Artemisia struck the Douglas amidships but the Duty Officer of the Artemisia prevented any loss of life by keeping his engines going, and holding his bows into the Douglas's side, so keeping her afloat until all crew and the 15 passengers were taken off safely. The Douglas then sank and her wreck was destroyed nearly four months later.

The collision was followed by a lengthy and expensive legal wrangle in which it revealed that the Artmisia was waiting her turn to enter the dock and was lying a thousand feet off the entrance with just sufficient seaway to stem the flood tide. The Douglas left the dock, turned into the tidal water intending to go around the larger ship. The issue turned to one of seamanship and the Admiralty Court held that the Douglas was alone to blame. The case was heard on 5 June 1924.

The Steam Packet appealed against the decision and the appeal was allowed. This time the Artemisia was held to blame. Then came the final appeal to the House of Lords.

The successful appeal was dismissed and their Lordships reversed the findings of the Appeal Court. The responsibility of the collision rested solely on the Douglas.

References

Bibliography

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