PS Pioneer (1905)

PS Pioneer was built by A. & J. Inglis, Pointhouse, Glasgow and launched on 2 February 1905 for the David MacBrayne Ltd fleet. She was built for the Islay mail service from West Loch Tarbert and commenced duties in April 1905, having achieved a satisfactory 14 knots on her trials. She was of a light design, enabling her to reach West Loch Tarbet pier during the light spring tides. As a result of this her paddle wheels were small and her paddle boxes did not protrude above the promenade deck. In March 1937 she lost the use of her starboard paddle wheel during heavy seas off MacArthur Head and drifted towards rocks. Whilst the Port Askaig lifeboat and two of the company's other steamers stood by, she was able to proceed after running repairs were made. In 1939 she moved to Oban for the summer. She did not see active service during the Second World War but was laid up at the end of 1943. She was later purchased by the Admiralty for experimental work and was also used as a floating laboratory in Portland Harbour on the South Coast. She was finally scrapped at Rotterdam in 1958.