Ellan Vannin boat tragedy by Lexi Duggan

Poor little boat that put up a good fight against a force 11 gale and 20 ft waves. The sad loss of the SS Ellan Vannin (the Gaelic for Isle of Man) on 3rd December, 1909, with the loss of all passengers and crew was a very sad time in Manx history. The Ellan Vannin was a paddle steamer launched in 1860 as the Mona's Isle II, but converted to a twin screw steamer in Barrow-in-Furness in 1883 when she was renamed Ellan Vannin. On December 3rd 1909 she left Ramsey Harbour just after 0100 hrs in adverse, but not extreme weather. Conditions, however, deteriorated and by the time the vessel was approaching the Mersey Bar violent storm force conditions/hurricane winds (Beaufort Scale 11/12) were prevailing. The Ellan Vannin was overwhelmed by massive waves, capsized and sank. A Board of Trade Enquiry subsequently exonerated the Master, the company and the crew of all blame for this tragedy. No subsequent vessel of the Steam Packet has borne the name Ellan Vannin. "After the Ellan Vannin sank there were 58 children left without either one or two parents"