SS Arabia (1852)
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| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Arabia |
| Owner | Cunard Line |
| Operator | Cunard Line |
| Port of registry | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Route | Liverpool to New York |
| Laid down | 1852[1] |
| Launched | 21 June 1852[1] |
| Completed | 1852[1] |
| Maiden voyage | 1 January 1853[1] |
| In service | 1853 |
| Fate | Sold 1865 and converted to sail, scrapped in 1867.[2] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Paddle steamer |
| Tonnage | 2,393 GRT, 1,359 NRT |
| Length | 285 feet (87 m)[1] |
| Beam | 41 ft (12 m)[1] |
| Depth | 27.5 feet (8.4 m) |
| Installed power | 9 feet (2.7 m) stroke engine with 103 inches (260 cm) diameter cylinder[1] |
| Propulsion | 2× 36 feet (11 m) paddle wheels[1] |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)[1] |
| Notes | Last wooden-hulled Cunard ship |
Royal Mail Steam Ship Arabia (RMS Arabia) was an
wooden-hulled ship built for the Cunard Line, built in 1852 in Greenock, Scotland.[3] On January 1, 1853,[4] it departed on its maiden voyage with 60 passengers and 1,200 tons of coal. RMS Arabia was a luxurious ship during its time, with the saloon having a stained glass
dome, and crimson velvet sofas.
Arabia was designed with a slim
Blue Riband, of which she never did. The combination of her narrow bow, wooden hull and powerful engines made her incredibly fast in smooth water, though greatly hampered in storms. Its appearance was near identical to the SS La Plata. [5]
It was said the vibrations that Arabia suffered were so intense, that "her machinery shook her to pieces".[5] This is probably why the RMS Persia of 1855 was built of iron, as opposed to the RMS Arabia that was built of wood.
In August 1856, after departing Boston en route to Liverpool, the Arabia ran aground on Blonde Rock and was damaged. [6] In 1858 en route to
Cunarder Europa with minor damage, and continued its voyage. During the Crimean War, the Arabia was used as a transport ship.[7] Arabia was sold in 1865 to Robert Duncan and in 1866 to the Anglo-Egyptian Navigation Company of London, and later scrapped in May 1867.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "SS Arabia (2), Cunard Line". Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-9542451-8-4.
- ^ "Transatlantic Mail: The Cunard Line" (PDF). Siegel Auctions. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Steam Workshop::RMS Arabia (1853-1867)". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ a b "Arabia (2), Cunard Line". www.norwayheritage.com. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ Nautical Magazine: A Magazine for Those Interested in Ships and the Sea. Brown, Son & Ferguson. 1883.
- ^ "The Royal Mail Steam Ship Arabia 2900 Tons, 900 Horse Power... Starting for New York with Mails, River Mersey | Royal Museums Greenwich". www.rmg.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
- ^ Digital records of Arabia https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=21942
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