This new issue from Isle of Man Post Office marks one of the saddest Manx shipping disasters.
Below is given the info given by the Isle of Man Post.
It is appropriate that the Post Office should commemorate this moment in history as the ethic of ‘getting the mail through’ – both to and from the Island – was a founding objective in 1830 of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
In December 1909 the 339-ton passenger and cargo steamer Ellan Vannin paid the price for maintaining that tradition. Ellan Vannin was a 49-year-old veteran of the Steam Packet fleet; so small that she was regarded as the company mascot. She had a reputation, however, of being a ‘weatherly little craft’ that got the mail through in atrocious weather conditions when bigger vessels took shelter.
At 1.12am on December 3, 1909 when the Ellan Vannin left Ramsey for Liverpool, a north–west gale was developing but it was not thought to be dangerous. Later however, the gale worsened to hurricane force. Despite the Ellan Vannin reaching the mouth of the River Mersey safely, what happened next has been the subject of much debate ever since.
A Board of Trade Inquiry decided that the 24-foot waves overwhelmed her, they even swept away the bridge. She went down by the stern then her bow broke off. A total of 14 passengers and crew of 21 were lost - many of them never recovered.
From that moment on the Steam Packet Company would never use the name Ellan Vannin again.
Built as an iron paddle steamer passenger- cargo vessel under yard No 102 by Tod & McGregor, Meadowside, Glasgow for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
10 April 1860 launched as the MONA’S ISLE (II)
Tonnage 350 tons, dim. 172.0 x 20.2 ft.
Powered by an oscillating steam engine, manufactured by builders, Glasgow, 600 ihp., speed 12 knots.
June 1860 delivered. Cost £10.673.
Used for the service between Liverpool and the Isle of Man with cargo and passengers.
1883 Converted to a twin-screw steamer, and fitted out with a new 2-cyl. compound steam engine, manufactured by Westray Copeland, Barrow,
16 November 1883 renamed in ELLAN VANNIN, which is the Manx name for the Isle of Man.
Under that name she could carry 106 first class passengers on deck and 28 in cabins. 140 third class with 25 in cabins, total 299, crew 14.
Tonnage 339 gross, dim. 198.5 x 22.2 x 10.7ft.
December 1891 she underwent a complete overhaul at the Naval Construction Works at Barrow.
03 December 1909, she sailed from Ramsey, Isle of Man at 1.13 am for Liverpool under command of Capt. James Teare with on board 15 passengers, a crew of 21, mail and 60 tons of cargo which included vegetables, pigs and sheep.
When sailing, bad weather was expected, but Capt. Teare did not expect any problem, the ELLAN VANNIN was old but in good condition.
But during the passage the wind increased to hurricane force and when arriving at Liverpool bar huge seas were running with waves over 25 feet high.
What then has happened with the ship is till today a mystery, not any of the crew of passengers survived to tell the tale, but it is believed that she broached to before heavy seas, filled and sank, stern first.
Her mast were showed above water when the weather improved, and diver found that one set of davits had been swing out to lower a lifeboat, and her bow was damaged.
The wreck was later blown up as she was a hazard to shipping.
Isle of Man 2009 £1.50 + £1.50 MSsg?, scott?
Source: West Coast Steamers by Duckworth & Langmuir. Island Lifeline by Cennery Chappel. Shipwreck Index of the British Isles by Richard & Bridget Larn.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellan_Vannin_(ship)