Magnetic was built by Harland and Wolff and launched on 28 March 1891, being delivered to her new owners on 6 June 1891.

[1] She was based at the Port of Liverpool and upon her completion, used mainly to take passengers to White Star's various ocean liners.

After this work was completed, she was pictured beside RMS Olympic in a photograph including the Olympic sister ship RMS Titanic at their second and last meeting, before running sea trials for two days before returning to service in Liverpool.

[2] She was then sold by White Star in December 1932 to the Alexandra Towing Company, of Liverpool.

[6] Now renamed Ryde, she resumed her usual duties and was present at the opening of No.2 Stanlow Oil Dock in the Manchester Ship Canal in 1933.