The SS Ben-my-Chree was an iron-hulled paddle-steamer operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, launched on May 6, 1875, by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company in Barrow-in-Furness. She was the second vessel to carry the name within the company's fleet. The ship measured 310 feet 9 inches (94.72 meters) in length, with a beam of 31 feet 9 inches (9.68 meters) and a depth of 13 feet 9 inches (4.19 meters). Originally, her gross register tonnage was 1,030 GRT, but after a refit, her tonnage increased to 1,192 GRT. Powered by two oscillating two-cylinder engines, each with a 65-inch diameter and a 90-inch stroke, the vessel achieved a top speed of 14 knots (approximately 16 mph) at 2,300 shaft horsepower (about 1,700 kW). Despite modifications to her boilers, it was later found that she operated roughly two knots below her recorded top speed. Notably, in 1884, she was reboilered and altered to carry four funnels—arranged in pairs fore and aft of the paddle-boxes—making her the only vessel in the line's history to feature four funnels. Throughout her 31-year career, SS Ben-my-Chree served faithfully, primarily facilitating passenger and cargo services. Her design and operational history reflect significant maritime engineering of the period, especially her distinctive four-funnel configuration. She was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1906, being broken up at Morecambe. Her service life and unique features mark her as a notable vessel in the history of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, embodying the transition era of paddle steamers in maritime transportation.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.