05 July 1973 the Isle of Man issued a set of stamps of which the 9p depict three ferries of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co., Ltd.
The ship approaching the entrance is the MONA’S QUEEN, the vessel berthed on the inside of the pier is the MANXMAN and on the outside is berthed BEN-MY-CHREE.
The details of the MONA’S QUEEN and BEN-MY-CHREE you can find in the shipsonstamp list, the details of the MANXMAN are given below.
Built as a ferry under yard No. 1259 by Cammell Laird & Ltd., Birkenhead for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. Ltd.
24 March 1953 ordered.
15 April 1954 keel laid down.
08 February 1955 launched under the name MANXMAN (II).
Tonnage 2.945 grt, 946 net, 550 dwt. Dim. 105.11 x 15.24 x 3.73m.
Powered by two Pametrada steam turbines, manufactured by Cammell Laird, 8.000 shp, twin screws, speed 21 knots.
Accommodation for 2.393 passengers, crew 68.
12 May 1955 sea trials.
14May 1955 completed, building cost £847.000.
21 May 1955 maiden voyage from Douglas, Isle of Man to Liverpool, also used for the service to Belfast, Dublin, Androssan and Llandudno.
04 September 1982 sailed for the last voyage from Liverpool in the ferry service to Douglas, returning the same day in Liverpool, thereafter laid up.
03 October 1982 sold to Marda (Squaash) Ltd., England, for about £100.000, not renamed, moved to Preston for lay up as a floating restaurant.
05 November 1990 towed from Preston to Liverpool, again in use as a floating restaurant.
16 April 1994 towed from Liverpool for Hull.
August 1997 a fire broke out on board seriously damaged many of the vintage wood panels of the ship interior.
12 September 1997 arrived under tow at Sunderland, berthed near the Pallion Engineering Company Ltd.
12 July 1999 alongside her berth at Pallion’s Shipyard, Sunderland she sank, when water entered through a hole near the engine room, not any work would seem to have taken place since she arrived there 12 September 1997.
15 July 1999 refloated.
2008 It looks she is still around berthed by the shipyard, but her future looks bleak, and most probably she will be scrapped.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSS_Manxman http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/manxman_1955.htm
Island Lifeline by Chappell.