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MASSILIA (1884)
Service dates: 1884-1903
Official number: 87404
Shipping lines: P&O STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY
Ship type:
Passenger Liner.
Career
- 14.02.1884
- Launched.
- 21.03.1884
- Registered.
- 23.03.1884
- Delivered as Massilia for The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company at a cost of £135,080. Her first class saloon was noted for its carved oak decoration. While her sister Valetta had conventional steam winches, Massilia was the first P&O ship to have hydraulic ones, reducing the annoyance to passengers; she also had electric light, and was one of the first P&O vessels to have her yards removed. Massilia is the ancient Roman name for the port city Marseilles in southern France. P&O previously used the name in 1860.
- 16.04.1884
- Maiden voyage London/Bombay/Hong Kong/Shanghai and return not via Bombay.
- 26.02.1885
- On UK/Australia service.
- 17.04.1885
- Taken up at Sydney and fitted out as an armed merchant cruiser during a period of diplomatic tension with Russia. (Rosetta was similarly taken up at Hong Kong). She never saw service, but was converted in record time with six 64-pounder and two 42-pounder guns.
- 25.08.1885
- Returned to commercial service.
- 02.1890
- Cargo capacity 4,455 cubic metres (157,355 cubic feet).
- 11.1891
- Arrived in London from Australia after a voyage in which 96 of those on board had suffered from influenza thought to have been brought on board in Melbourne.
- 06.1892
- Cargo capacity 3,768 cubic metres (133,078 cubic feet).
- 1897
- Calcutta service.
- 17.05.1898
- Cargo capacity 4,128 cubic metres (145,812 cubic feet).
- 1902
- Far East service.
- 30.09.1903
- Sold for £8,996 to Luigi Pittaluga, Italy for demolition.
- 15.10.1903
- Arrived at Genoa.