PS Normandy

rdf:langString PS Normandy

rdf:langString PS Normandy

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rdf:langString paddle-wheel mail-steamer

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rdf:langString PS Normandy

rdf:langString PS Normandy was a British paddle-wheel mail steamer operating on the Southampton - Guernsey - Jersey route which, on a night of dense fog, sank 20 miles from The Needles in the English Channel in the early morning of 17 March 1870 after colliding at around 03:30 with steamship Mary, a propeller steamer carrying 500 tons of maize from Odessa to London via Gibraltar. The PS Normandy, built in 1863, was operated by the Steam Packet Company, at the time a subsidiary of the London and South-West Railway Co. On the night of 16 March 1870, she shipped anchor in Southampton just before midnight being due in Jersey some 12 hours later. The ship was operating under an agreement between the Steam Packet Company and the British government for the carriage of Her Majesty’s mail to the Channel Isles. The agreement stated that vessels undertaking this duty were to make ‘the best of their way’ on the run and stop only for ‘the saving of life’. Late arrival was penalised by a charge £50 an hour. Until the night of 16 – 17 March 1870, the PS Normandy had never defaulted on its contractual obligations. On the bridge of the Mary at the time of the collision, were Mr Griggs, the first mate and the captain of the vessel, Captain Stranach, together with the helmsman.