The SS (RMS) Tynwald (II) was an iron paddle-steamer built by Caird & Co. of Greenock and launched on 17 March 1866. She was a sister vessel to Snaefell and Douglas, sharing a similar design and construction. Tynwald measured 240 feet in length, with a beam of 26 feet and a depth of 14 feet, and had a registered gross tonnage of 696 GRT. Powered by engines developing 1,300 shp, she could reach an operational speed of approximately 15 knots, making her one of the faster vessels operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. Her design featured two funnels located aft of the paddle boxes, with her main mast positioned close to the after funnel. The vessel was intended to carry both passengers and cargo, including mail under her designation as a Royal Mail Ship (RMS). The mail storage area was designated for letters, parcels, and valuables, while her cargo hold accommodated a variety of goods, from furniture to foodstuffs. Tynwald’s service record includes several notable incidents. She collided with the steamship Sirius and the tug Guiding Star in 1873, and with the sailing ship Annie Frost in 1874. In 1877, she responded to a distress signal from the brigantine Cerduc, which had been damaged in a collision with a barque; Tynwald towed the damaged vessel to Liverpool. The vessel underwent a significant overhaul in 1882, where her boilers, surface condenser, and decks were replaced at a cost of over £11,000. Throughout her career, Tynwald also contributed to maritime rescue efforts, notably towing abandoned hulks Jung Frau and Gloriosa into Douglas in 1885. After an uneventful operational period, she was sold in 1888 along with her sister Douglas for a total of £26,644. Her service exemplifies the importance of paddle steamers in 19th-century maritime transportation around the Isle of Man, combining passenger, cargo, and mail services with notable resilience and speed.

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