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 ft 0 in (73.2 m); beam 30 ft 0 in (9.1 m); depth 15 ft 2 in (4.6 m). 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
Peveril 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
World War I, playing a valuable part in maintaining the Island's lifeline.
Mail and cargo
Douglas was designed to carry a mixture of passengers and cargo.
Her designation as a
Royal Mail Ship (RMS) indicated that she carried mail under contract with the
Royal Mail.
A specified area was allocated for the storage of letters, parcels and specie (bullion, coins and other valuables).
In addition, there was a considerable quantity of regular cargo, ranging from furniture to foodstuffs and even motor cars.
Incidents
On Thursday 7 September 1911, the Douglas ran aground in the
River Mersey as she completing passage from
Douglas to
Liverpool.[1]
The Douglas heeled over to
port slightly, but righted as the
tide made.[1] She subsequently refloated, and arrived into
Liverpool at
08:30.[1]
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 Douglasamidships 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 (at 53°23′0″N3°01′0″W / 53.38333°N 3.01667°W / 53.38333; -3.01667)[2] 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.
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 ft 0 in (73.2 m); beam 30 ft 0 in (9.1 m); depth 15 ft 2 in (4.6 m). 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
Peveril 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
World War I, playing a valuable part in maintaining the Island's lifeline.
Mail and cargo
Douglas was designed to carry a mixture of passengers and cargo.
Her designation as a
Royal Mail Ship (RMS) indicated that she carried mail under contract with the
Royal Mail.
A specified area was allocated for the storage of letters, parcels and specie (bullion, coins and other valuables).
In addition, there was a considerable quantity of regular cargo, ranging from furniture to foodstuffs and even motor cars.
Incidents
On Thursday 7 September 1911, the Douglas ran aground in the
River Mersey as she completing passage from
Douglas to
Liverpool.[1]
The Douglas heeled over to
port slightly, but righted as the
tide made.[1] She subsequently refloated, and arrived into
Liverpool at
08:30.[1]
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 Douglasamidships 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 (at 53°23′0″N3°01′0″W / 53.38333°N 3.01667°W / 53.38333; -3.01667)[2] 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.