RMS Scotia

A model of Cunard's Scotia at the Science Museum in London
History
United Kingdom
Name:	Scotia
Owner:	Cunard Line
Route:	Atlantic crossing.
Builder:	Robert Napier and Sons, Glasgow
Launched:	25 June 1861
Maiden voyage:	10 May 1862
Refit:	As a cable layer, 1879
Fate:	Lost off Guam, 1904
General characteristics
Type:	Passenger liner
Tonnage:	3,871 GRT
Length:	400 ft (120 m)
Beam:	47 ft (14 m)
Installed power:	1 x twin-cylinder, 4,000 hp (3,000 kW) side-lever engine
Sail plan:	2 masts

Scotia was a British passenger liner operated by the Cunard Line that won the Blue Riband in 1863 for the fastest westbound transatlantic voyage. She was the last oceangoing paddle steamer, and as late as 1874 she made Cunard's second fastest voyage. Laid up in 1876, Scotia was converted to a twin-screw cable layer in 1879. She served in her new role for twenty-five years until she was wrecked off of Guam in March 1904.

As a result of competition from the Collins Line, Cunard ordered Persia of 1856, the first iron Blue Riband winner. Scotia was originally planned as a sister for Persia. However, the project was delayed after the loss of the Collins Arctic and Pacific left Cunard without effective competition on the express service. When Scotia was finally built, she was a larger edition of Persia with an extra deck. Safety improvements included seven watertight compartments, a reinforced forward bulkhead and buoyancy chambers.

There was considerable disagreement among Cunard's partners concerning the choice of paddle wheels for the new liner as screw propulsion was proving itself superior. While the firm already owned screw steamers for the secondary service, Samuel Cunard insisted that paddle wheels be retained for what was to be the line's premier unit. However, they agreed to order a second mail steamer, China, to test screws in the express service.

As completed by Robert Napier and Sons of Glasgow, Scotia was the second largest ship in the world after Great Eastern. She carried 273 first class passengers and 50 in second class. Scotia did not have quarters for steerage. Her two-cylinder side-lever engine produced 4,000 horsepower (3,000 kW), and consumed 164 tons of coal per day.

Scotia and China relieved Asia and Africa on the New York express route, and the older steamers were transferred to the Boston trade. In July 1863, Scotia won the Blue Riband with a Queenstown – New York voyage of 14.46 knots (26.78 km/h; 16.64 mph), beating Persia's record by a full knot. Scotia is generally credited with retaining the Blue Riband until 1872 when she was surpassed by Adriatic of the White Star Line. While Gibbs credits the screw steamer City of Paris of the Inman Line with a Blue Riband voyage in 1866, Scotia is universally considered as the equal of any pre-Oceanic liner.