Ship - Isle of Man paddle steamer 'Empress Queen' ('Liver'), Ramsey pmk 1905

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Text from the free encyclopedia WIKIPEDIA may appear below to give a little background information (internal links may not  work) :

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SS (RMS) Empress Queen was a steel paddle steamer, which was the last of its type ordered by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.[3] She was chartered by the Admiralty in 1915 and used for trooping duties until she ran aground off Bembridge, Isle of Wight, England, and was abandoned.

Empress Queen was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan in 1897 at a cost of £130,000. Prior to her launch the directors of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company issued a circular in which they invited the shareholders of the Company to decide on the name of the vessel - the choices offered being Empress Queen or Douglas. The name chosen was Empress Queen, adopted in honour of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

The decision did not meet with universal approval; the Isle of Man Times of Tuesday January 19, 1897, disregarding sentiment and citing practicality, stated in an editorial that it thought it better to use the name Douglas, as it would be more easily recognised by passengers.[4] In addition it was leveled that the decision had been taken by English shareholders, who formed the majority of the Company's shareholding.[5] With the decision on the vessel's name decided the launch date was initially fixed for February 18, 1897 - the christening ceremony to be performed by Mrs Margaret Mylrea, wife of Chairman of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, John Allen Mylrea.[6][7][8]

The launch had to be delayed when a fire broke out in Fairfield's yards in February 1897. The fire caused major damage to the yard and threatened the cruiser HMS Argonaught at that time on the stocks under construction, as well as various other vessels including the Empress Queen. However, due to the vessels being separated from the buildings no damage was sustained.[9][10] Consequently, the launch was rescheduled.[10]

Empress Queen was successfully launched at 13:00hrs on Thursday March 4, 1897. A large delegation of directors and officials from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company were present, along with Sir William Pearce, Chairman of Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Admiralty representatives and visitors from Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow.[8]

Empress Queen was the largest and fastest paddle-driven cross-channel steamer ever to be built. Her tonnage was 2,140 GRT; length 360 ft 1 in; beam 42 ft 3 in, depth 17 ft. The engine design was very advanced for its day. The machinery consisted of two diagonal surface condensing engines. There were three steam cylinders placed side by side, working on three cranks; the high pressure cylinder being situated between the two low pressure cylinders.[8] The high pressure cylinder was fitted with a piston valve and each of the low pressure cylinders with flat slide valves, which were controlled by double eccentrics and link motion valve gear. The starting and reversing was achieved by a large steam and hydraulic engine constructed on the direct acting principle.

The high pressure cylinder was 68 inches in diameter with the two low-pressure cylinders of 92-inch diameter. The stroke was 84 inches and the usual running speed was 44 rpm.[8]

The condenser was cylindrical and placed athwartships between the cylinders and the supports for the shafting, while the condensing water was supplied by a separate circulating pump, worked by an independent engine.[8]

The paddle wheels were constructed of steel on the feathering principle with curved floats.[8] Steam was supplied to the engines from four double-ended boilers, producing a boiler steam pressure of 140 pounds per square inch (970 kPa) arranged in two compartments, one forward and one aft of the engine room. The boilers were of the multitubular return marine type, each having eight corrugated furnaces being constructed entirely of steel to Board of Trade requirements and working on a system of forced draught with fans fitted to supply air. Sixteen firemen worked at her 32 furnaces.[8]

The engines developed 10,000 ihp (this compared to the 6,500 ihp developed by the Queen Victoria and Prince of Wales and 4,500 ihp in the Mona's Isle) and produced to give Empress Queen a service speed of 21.5 knots (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph). Her boilers and engines also came from her builder.[8]

At the time, her engines and paddle wheels were claimed to be the heaviest ever placed in a paddle steamer, with one paddle shaft wheel alone weighing 70 tons.[8]

In order to facilitate better handling in port, Empress Queen was fitted with a bow rudder in addition to the stern rudder.[8] The hull was divided into several watertight compartments by means of steel transverse bulkheads which additionally augmented the strength of the hull forming supports and ties between the decks and framing. A steam capstan windlass was fitted forward for working the ship's cables, and on the spar deck there was a steam capstan for warping and mooring purposes. Situated forward was a double acting steam winch which was used for the loading and unloading of luggage.[8]