Ellan Vannin (ship)

Ellan Vannin (the Manx name for the Isle of Man) was built as an iron paddle steamer in 1860 in Meadowside, Glasgow. Originally named Mona's Isle, she weighed 339 tonnes and had a length of 69.03 metres (226.5 ft). She was rebuilt with twin screws in 1883, this increased her weight to 375 tonnes and her speed to 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h). She was renamed Ellan Vannin following her conversion to a propeller-driven ship. She was capable of carrying 300 passengers and normally had a crew of 14. She was owned by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and primarily operated out of the port of Ramsey on the Isle of Man. By 1909 she was the smallest and oldest ship in the Steam Packet fleet. She sank with the loss of all 36 aboard, in a storm in Liverpool Bay on 3 December 1909 whilst bound for Liverpool from Ramsey.

Loss

She had left her home port of Ramsey at 01.13 am, under the command of Captain James Teare, who had some 18 years of experience. She was carrying 15 passengers and 21 crew as well as mail and 60 tonnes of cargo. The weather on departure was moderate, and though the barometric pressure was falling, the captain did not expect a significant deterioration in the weather. However the weather rapidly worsened and by 06.35 am when the ship arrived at the Mersey bar light ship, the wind had risen to gale force 11 and waves were reported to be exceeding 20 feet (6.1 m) in height. The ship foundered, (a nautical term for filling with water and sinking), between the bar light ship and the Q1 buoy in the Mersey approach channel. It is believed she was broached by a large wave, which overwhelmed the ship. She sank by the stern with the loss of all passengers and crew.

Aftermath

The Board of Trade inquiry found that the captain was not to blame for the disaster and the cause was extreme weather. Soon after the disaster the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board destroyed the wreck using explosives as it was causing a hazard to shipping in the channel. In January 1910, Captain Teare's body was found washed ashore on Ainsdale beach in Southport, it was subsequently returned to the Isle of Man for burial. A disaster fund was established for those who were dependents of the deceased, the Steam Packet contributed £1,000 to this fund.

Although the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has a tradition of reusing old ship names, they have never reused the name Ellan Vannin.

A song written by Hughie Jones of The Spinners commemorates the disaster.

External links

• Isle of Man disasters
• "The loss of the Ellan Vannin"
• "Video of Hughie Jones' Song 'Ellan Vannin Tradegy' - performed by Stationary Willberries from the Isle of Man (with permission of H.Jones)"