The Little Ship That Could

Ocean liners were only one of the many vessels steamship companies owned and operated.  Cunard, White Star, HAPAG, and the others managed a fleet of cargo vessels, cargo-liners, tankers, colliers, cattle haulers, and passenger tenders.  SS Magnetic entered service in 1891 as White Star Line’s passenger tender in Liverpool. Some passengers, primarily those in first and second class passengers boarded from the Landing Stage, closest to the hotels and railroad stations.  However, many passengers, baggage, and mail, arrived by tenders.

Magnetic served many of the line’s great liners including Oceanic (1899) pictured here. 

In 1903 she was tender to RMS Baltic exclusively, as the Baltic was for a time, the largest ship to call Liverpool home.  In addition to tending passengers and baggage for White Star liners, Magnetic sailed as Mersey excursion boat, a tugboat, and as a water carrier.  She was a versatile vessel.

SS Magnetic and RMS Baltic

Magnetic was in service with White Star until 1932 when she was sold to Alexandria Towing Company and renamed SS Ryde.  She continued working as a tender and excursion boat until 1935 when she was scrapped.

White Star had several tenders operating in ports where large ships could not dock.  For example, at Cherbourg, France, the liners were served by Nomadic(preserved today) and Traffic.

SS Magnetic (1891-1932, as SS Ryde 1932-1935) built by Harland and Wolff, Ltd.,  Belfast, Ireland for White Star Line.  619 GRT, 170 feet long, 32 feet wide.  Service speed 13.5 knots.