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
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/SS_Magnetic_model.jpg/220px-SS_Magnetic_model.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/RMS_Baltic.jpg/220px-RMS_Baltic.jpg)
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]
References
- ^ "Harland and Wolff Ships Index". The Nomadic Preservation Society. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d "THE WHITE STAR LINE". The Merchant Navy Association. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004036/19111213/097/0007<
- ^ https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001593/19120229/134/0007
- ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 40781. London. 18 February 1915. col F, p. 18.
- ^ "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.