SS Monarch (1885)

SS ''Monarch'' No. 90117 was a tramp steamer which was operated by Alexander King Ltd, Belfast. She was involved in a collision with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company steamer RMS ''Peveril,'' off Douglas, Isle of Man in the early hours of 17 September 1899, resulting in the sinking of the ''Peveril.''

Construction and dimensions

The ''Monarch'' was built by Mollwaine, Lewis & Co., Belfast in 1885, and was owned and operated by Alexander King Ltd, Belfast.

Length 155'; beam 22'; depth 11'; with an i.h.p. of 600. ''Monarch'' had a design speed of approximately 10 knots.

Collision with the RMS ''Peveril''

On the night of Saturday 16 September 1899, under the command of her Master, Captain Alexander McCullough, the ''Monarch'' left Workington, Cumberland, with a cargo of 360 tons of flue-ash (a valuable ore-bearing material)Manx Sun. 23 Sep 1899 for the Villiers Spelter Company, Swansea.

She arrived off St Bees Head at 20:35 and set a course for Skerries.

The was a dual passenger and cargo steamer owned and operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
She was built by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company, Barrow-in-Furness in 1884, and was of

Under the command of her Master, Capt. William Woods, ''Peveril'' departed Queen's Dock, Port of Liverpool at 19:50 and passed the Bar Lightship at 21:17 when she set a course bound for Douglas.

At 00:25 as the ''Monarch'' was to the northeast of Douglas, Isle of Man, her lookout, George Caddell, spotted the light on the ''Peveril's'' masthead away to port. On board the ''Peveril,'' First Officer Thomas Webb and the ''Peveril's'' lookout, A.B. Joseph Corris observed the masthead light and then the port navigation lights of another vessel which could be seen off the ''Peveril's'' starboard quarter, with the range decreasing and the bearing remaining constant.

The starboard light of the ''Peveril'' and the port light of the ''Monarch'' maintained a constant bearing, and neither ship appeared to alter course.
With collision imminent, Captain McCullough ordered "full astern" on the ''Monarch's'' ship's telegraph, and this instruction was duly carried out by her chief engineer, Morris Flinn.
At the same time, First Officer Webb ordered the ''Peveril's'' helm hard to starboard and gave two blasts on the ship's whistle.

At 01:00, 14 miles southeast of Douglas. the ''Monarch'' rammed the ''Peveril'' amidships, just abreast of the funnel, flooding the engine room.

Upon receiving a report of the damage inflicted, it was clear to Capt. Woods that the ''Peveril'' would founder, and the necessary provisions were made to abandon ship. The ''Monarch'' stood by whilst the ''Peveril's'' lifeboats were lowered, which then made their way towards the ''Monarch.''
There were 30 crew members on board the ''Peveril'' and one passenger.

The ''Peveril'' sank stem first in 40 minutes.Ramsey Courier. 19 Sep 1899 The position of the wreck of ''Peveril'' is given as .

Aftermath

The ''Monarch'' then made her way to Douglas Harbour with the ''Peveril's'' solitary passenger, her ship's company aboard; and towing two of her lifeboats astern.

''Monarch'' arrived at the Victoria Pier at 04:00.

However, the ''Monarch'' had also sustained serious damage. Her stem was stoved in, and had it not been for an extra-strong collision bulkhead she may well also of foundered. On discharging the ''Peveril's'' crew and passenger, the ''Monarch'' moved across the harbour to the Red Pier; and then to the South Quay in order for repairs to be effected, where she attracted considerable attention from the public. A report in the ''Ramsey Courier;'' Tuesday, 19 September 1899, stated that the ''Monarch's'' bow was covered by canvas in order to obscure the result of the impact, but the entirety could not be fully hidden. Damage could be seen in the shape of a hole, extending several feet below the waterline, as well as damage to her plating stretching back approximately 20 feet, as a consequence of striking the ''Peveril's'' belting.

In accordance with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 ( 57 & 58 Vict. c. 60), both First Officer Webb of the ''Peveril,'' together with Captain McCullough of the ''Monarch'' were summoned to appear before an inquiry held at the Custom House, Douglas, on Monday 18 September 1899, presided over by the Receiver of Wrecks, Mr. M. J. Cahill, as to the events surrounding the loss of the ''Peveril.''

During the course of the hearing, unsurprisingly, Mr. Webb blamed the ''Monarch'' stating:-

As would be expected, during the course of his deposition, Capt. McCullough made a different assertion:-

From the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, it would appear that the crew of the ''Peveril'' were to blame. International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea; Part B – Steering and sailing; Section II (for vessels in sight of one another); Article 15. Crossing situations stating:-

:"When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel."

References

;Bibliography
*Chappell, Connery (1980). ''Island Lifeline'' T.Stephenson & Sons Ltd

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monarch (1884)
1884 ships
Steamships of the United Kingdom
Merchant ships of the United Kingdom
Ships built in Belfast