SS (RMS) ''Mona's Queen'' (I) No. 21930 – the first vessel in the Company's history to bear the name – was an iron

paddle-steamer A paddle steamer is a steamship or steamboat powered by a steam engine driving paddle wheels to propel the craft through the water. In antiquity, paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, whereby the first uses were wh ...

which was owned and operated by the

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Limited (abbreviated to IoMSPCo or, locally, The Steam Packet ()) is the oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company in the world, having been founded in 1830. The company provides freight, p ...

Construction and dimensions

''Mona's Queen'' was built and engined by J. & G. Thomson of Govan,

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

and launched in 1852. She had a registered tonnage of 600 tons; length 186'; beam 27' and depth 13'. Her speed is recorded as , and her horsepower is not recorded. ''Mona's Queen'' carried a

figurehead In politics, a figurehead is a practice of who ''de jure'' (in name or by law) appears to hold an important and often supremely powerful title or office, yet '' de facto'' (in reality) exercises little to no actual power. This usually means that ...

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

, and was the first vessel to break away from the Company's long association with Robert Napier & Co. The vessel's cost is not recorded, but a reference in the Company's old minute book suggests it was under £14,000. In 1855 she was lengthened (details not recorded) at a cost of £2,111.

Service life

''Mona's Queen'' appears to have had a pretty uneventful career, with the exception of a collision with the steamer ''Sligo'', which occurred in the

River Mersey The River Mersey () is a major river in North West England. Its name derives from Old English and means "boundary river", possibly referring to its having been a border between the ancient kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. For centuries it h ...

in January 1862. The official inquiry went against the Steam Packet Company who had to pay approximately £300 in damages and costs. The Captain was accordingly reduced from Second Class Master to Third, and his pay was cut from £275 to £250.

Disposal

After ten years service the directors decided to sell the ship and offered it to Cunard, Wilson and Co. for £20,000. The offer was declined, and negotiations started with a

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company for a sale at £14,000. Midway through 1864 the directors admitted they could not sell the vessel. ''Mona's Queen'' therefore continued in the Company's service until she was broken up in 1880.

References

;Bibliography * Chappell, Connery (1980). ''Island Lifeline'' T.Stephenson & Sons Ltd {{DEFAULTSORT:Mona's Queen (1852) Ships of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company 1852 ships Ferries of the Isle of Man Steamships Steamships of the United Kingdom Paddle steamers of the United Kingdom Ships built on the River Clyde Merchant ships of the United Kingdom Maritime incidents in January 1862