Builders: Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd 1906
Propulsion type: Direct drive triple screw turbine
Owners: G&J Burns & Co Ltd, Isle of Man Steam Packet Co Ltd
Service dates: 1906 - 1945
Tonnage: Gross 1713
Comments:
Built as Viper for G & J Burns, she undertook the daylight service from Ardrossan to Belfast. She was laid up in Glasgow during the Great War, with some troop transport work in the latter stages of the conflict. After the war, although she briefly returned to her former route, the troubles in Ireland meant that demand for the Belfast service was dwindling and she was considered surplus to requirements. Viper was sold to the IOMSPCo in March 1920 and was part of several second hand boats purchased to replace the tonnage that the company had lost in the First World War. She sailed for the IOMSPCo in 1920 and retained her name until 22 July, when she was renamed Snaefell (IV). In August 1927 she was involved in a collision with Ben-my-Chree when approaching Victoria Pier and had to return to Birkenhead for repair. Snaefell (IV) lasted until July 1945, when she was considered to be in too poor a condition to refurbish and was towed to Port Glasgow for scrapping. It was three years, however, before she was finally broken up at Smith & Houston's.