SS Mona's Isle (1830)

PS (RMS) Mona's Isle (I) was the first vessel ordered for service with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company when it began its operation in 1830. No Official number is recorded for the vessel, as formal registration was not introduced until the Merchant Shipping Act 1854.

Dimensions
Mona's Isle was a wooden paddle-steamer designed and built by John Wood & Co., Glasgow. She had no official yard number. Mona's Isle was launched by James Wood on Wednesday, 30 June, 1830. She had a registered tonnage of 200 GRT; length 116 ft; beam 19 ft; depth 10 ft; speed 8.5 kn.

Her engine and boiler were by Robert Napier & Co., Glasgow, and attracted considerable attention as Napier's work was considered to be very advanced for its day. The boiler produced a steam pressure of 15 psi, and the engine was one of the earliest examples of the side-lever type. It was really the familiar beam engine of the time, adapted for marine use. Mona's Isle had bunker capacity for 35 tons of coal.

This design of side-lever engine became the most popular type of engine for marine purposes, and was adapted for use in ocean going vessels until 1850.

Appearance
Considered both fast and handsome, Mona's Isle was schooner rigged with a standing bowsprit. She was square sterned, carvel built, carried a female figurehead and her Mainmast stood at 70 ft.

She had a tall funnel amidships (standing at 56 ft with a circumference of 12 ft), and the Three Legs of Man was displayed on her paddle boxes. A further design feature, was her long bowsprit and clipper bow.

Service Life
Unlike previous ships which served the Isle of Man, Mona's Isle was not constructed primarily to carry cargo, and was very well appointed for the carriage of passengers. Under the command of Capt. William Gill, Mona's Isle entered service with the Company upon her completion in 1830, and quickly established the Manx company's superiority over the rival St George Company, who's ships Prince Llewelyn and St David were much despised by the Manx public. The Mona's Isle, as opposed to the St. George Company's ships, had been designed to shelter passengers, and had spacious and comfortable cabins.

Mona's Isle arrived in Douglas on Saturday, August 14, 1830, and was christened by Mrs. J. C. Crellin. Her arrival was celebrated by the Manks Advertiser in which she was described thus:-

A Greenock newspaper of the day was slightly less complimentary, merely describing her as:-

Mona's Isle was used for a variety of work. Her first trip was to the Menai Bridge on August 15th, and a week later she ran an excursion to Bangor, North Wales; advertised as:- The fare for the voyage (£1), equates to (£0 as of 2024).

The major task of Mona's Isle however, was to open the Liverpool - Douglas service for the Steam Packet Company, and to beat the opposition. On Monday, August 16, Mona's Isle sailed for Liverpool. The Sophia Jane under the command of Lieutenant Tudor, R.N., sailed at the same time and reached Liverpool one and a half minutes ahead. On Wednesday, August 18, a similar race took place back to Douglas with a similar result. But on Friday, August 20, returning from Liverpool, Mona's Isle came in 40 minutes ahead. The pattern was established and Sophia Jane was regularly beaten, on one occasion in a gale, by over three hours.

The early defeats were probably caused by the fact that Mona's Isle's new engine took time to run in and full speed was not attainable at first. Mona's Isle, however, had proved herself capable of travelling between Liverpool and Douglas in eight hours at a speed of 8.5 kn.

The St. George Company engaged in a price-cutting war, and in September withdrew the Sophia Jane and replaced her with their largest and fastest steamer, the St. George. However, Mona's Isle won the first race largely because of the astuteness of Capt. Gill. Seeing a south-westerly gale developing, he had the coal and cargo moved to the windward side of the vessel, to prevent the windward paddle lifting out of the water.

By October 1830, Mona's Isle had established herself as the principle steamer between Liverpool and Douglas.

A letter to the Editor of the Liverpool Mercury stated:-

The seamanship of Capt. Gill again came to the fore on November 20. Having discharged passengers and cargo at Douglas, he decided to put to sea foreseeing a dangerous south-easterly gale. Lieutenant Tudor, in charge of St. George, anchored in Douglas Bay but lost the vessel in the night when her cable parted and she went aground on the Conister Rock and broke up. Through the efforts of Sir William Hillary, founder of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the crew of the St. George were saved.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company received its Royal Mail Warrant for the carriage of mail on July 12, 1831, and Mona's Isle took the title Royal Mail Ship for the first time on July 19.

The Directors of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company were becoming increasingly concerned about using Mona's Isle for winter service, and as a consequence a second vessel joined the fleet, the Mona, which commenced service in 1832; initially serving Whitehaven, and then taking over the service to Liverpool in October.

In 1842 Mona's Isle opened a service between Douglas and Fleetwood.

Mona's Isle returned to Robert Napier & Co. to be re-boilered in 1846 at a cost of £500 (£0 as of 2024).

Disposal
Attempts to sell Mona's Isle commenced in 1837, however such efforts to sell her failed. After 21 years service, Mona's Isle was sold to Robert Napier in 1851. She was sold for breaking at a cost of £580 (£0 as of 2024).

Trivia
The Ship's bell of Mona's Isle is now preserved at the Manx Museum.

Such was the popularity of Mona's Isle, that jugs of what was called "Liverpool transfer Ware," were made, bearing a likeness of the ship, and with the legend; "Success to the Mona's Isle."

Captain William Gill
Capt. William Gill was renowned for his seamanship, and is of particular note, as he was the first person to chart a safe, navigable channel through the (then) treacherous River Mersey. This navigable route became known as the Victoria Channel.