Builders: Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd Newcastle 1905
Propulsion type: 3 steam turbines by Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Co Ltd
Owners: Isle of Man Steam Packet Co Ltd
Service dates: 1905 - 1954
Tonnage: Gross 1957
Comments:
Launched on 7 March 1905, TS Viking was the first of the company's ships to be powered by steam turbines. After the success of TS King Edward, the world's first commercial turbine steamer, other companies started using the revolutionary new method of propulsion. Manxman (at that time owned by the Midland Railway Co) was the first turbine steamer to visit the Isle of Man and was later acquired by the IOMSPCo. Viking was a fast steamer and sported an operating speed of 24 knots, making the trip from the Lune Buoy, Fleetwood to Douglas Head in two hours and three minutes. In her time she was the fastest pleasure steamer in existence. In the First World war she was purchased by the Admiralty and renamed Vindex, being used as a seaplane carrier. She was repurchased by the company in 1919 and continued in service until 1954. She was extensively overhauled in 1950-1 and was one of the company's most popular steamers for almost 50 years. She was withdrawn and scrapped in October 1954, ending her days at T W Ward's yard in Barrow.
Isle of Man, Ireland and North West of England Steamers Section