On the 17th of January 1881 Messrs. Forrestt and Son launched from their Britannia-yard, at Limehouse, a finely modelled iron screw steamer (length between perpendiculars, 88 ft.; ditto over all, 93 ft.; breadth, 14 ft.; depth, 7 ft.) fitted with an inverted vertical compound engine 12.5 in. by 22 in. by 16 in. stroke (both engines and boiler were made by Messrs. Smurthwaite and Armstrong, of Limehouse).