page_title: SS Ben-my-Chree (1927)
section_title: Pre-war service
hierarchical_section_title: SS Ben-my-Chree (1927) / Pre-war service
caption_attribution_description: English: Specially appointed State Room, on board Ben-my-Chree.
context_page_description: TSS Ben-my-Chree (IV) No. 145304 – the fourth vessel in the company's history to be so named – was a passenger ferry operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company between 1927 and 1965.
  Ben-my-Chree was built in 1927 at the Cammell Laird shipyard, Birkenhead. She was the first steamer built after World War I for the Steam Packet Co.
  Upon the ordering of the vessel by the Steam Packet, a contracted cost of £185,000 was agreed. However, early construction was then held up by the long coal strike of 1926. Steel had to be purchased from Continental sources, and her keel was not laid until November of that year.
context_section_description: Construction of the Ben-my-Chree was plagued by industrial disputes. Her builders were granted extra payments to meet overtime costs, and promised a bonus of £2,000 if they met a delivery date of 25 June 1927. Cammell Laird's met this deadline, with "The Ben" launched on 5 April 1927, and completing her trials on 20 June; making her maiden voyage on Wednesday, 29 June.
  The Steam Packet Company, very satisfied with the vessel, paid £192,000, including various extras and then agreed to round up the figure to £200,000, which remained the final cost to the company.
  Upon entering service, the Ben-my-Chree was widely met with high acclaim; her promenade and shade decks were partially enclosed with glass screening.
  She was mainly used on the main home run between Douglas and Liverpool, and in service she regularly averaged over 20 knots between the Head and the Victoria Tower. Her average oil consumption on the route was 18.76 tons over five seasons.
  "The Ben", as she was always affectionately known, was also employed on a series of Sunday excursions.
  Ben-my-Chree originally entered service in the Steam Packet's traditional black livery. This changed, when she was chartered by the North Lancashire Roman Catholic organization to take passengers to the Eucharistic Conference being held in Dublin in 1932. It was agreed that she was to be painted white with green boot topping, the work was undertaken by Vickers Armstrong for a consideration of £63. However the charter was not taken up because the sleeping accommodation on board the Ben-my-Chree was considered insufficient for the would-be charterers.
  The Steam Packet Board decided to retain the colour scheme, as it was believed that white and green would have a definitive advertising value when the vessel was in the Mersey. The Lady of Mann was painted white for the 1933 season and the Mona's Queen was launched as a white ship in 1934.
  This scheme proved very popular with passengers and complemented the luxurious interiors of all three ships.
  The Ben-my-Chree was the first of three similar vessels built for the company between the wars. The second vessel was the Barrow-built Centenary Steamer, Lady of Mann, and the trio was completed when the Mona's Queen entered service in 1934.
  All three ships typified the style and elegance which was associated with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company during the 1930s, and were highly regarded by both their passengers and crew.
caption: Ben-my-Chree's well appointed State Room.
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