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Servia
1881 - 1902
- Gross Tonnage - 7,392
- Dimensions - 156.96 x 15.88m
- Number of funnels - 2
- Number of masts - 3
- Construction - Steel
- Propulsion - Single screw
- Engines - Compound, three
- Service speed - 16 knots
- Builder - J.&G.Thomson, Glasgow
- Launch date - 1 March 1881
- Passenger accommodation - 480 1st class, 750 2nd class
During the late 1870's the Cunard Board of
Directors were required to consider yet another
scientific discovery. Just as iron had superseded
wood, so steel was about to supplant iron. The
directors were convinced that steel possessed
greater strength than iron, and it was lighter. The first
steel ship to be built for Cunard was the Servia, and
it was the largest and most powerful ship at the time
( except the Great Eastern ).
The Servia possessed compound engines of massive
proportions generating a total of 10,000
horse-power. The passenger accommodation was
also of a high standard and modern appliances such
as electric lamps were introduced. The fastest
passage of the ship was made in December 1884,
when it steamed from New York to Queenstown in
7 days 1 hour 38 minutes.
The Servia made its maiden voyage from Liverpool
to New York, via Queenstown, on 26 November
1881. In 1889 the passenger accommodation was
modified to allow for 400 1st class, 200 2nd class
and 500 3rd class passengers. In 1899 it was used
as a Boer War troop transport but resumed its usual
service in June 1900. Its last voyage on the
Liverpool-New York route was on 17 September
1901, and soon after it was sold. It was then
scrapped in 1902 at Preston. |
