The RMS Slavonia was a passenger steamship originally built in 1902 as Yamuna for the British India Line, later acquired by the Cunard Line in 1904 and renamed Slavonia. She measured 510 feet in length with a beam of 59 feet 6 inches, and was powered by triple expansion steam engines built by Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd. These engines drove twin screw propellers, enabling her to reach a speed of approximately 13 knots. Her gross register tonnage was initially assessed at 8,831 GRT, but after refitting, her tonnage increased to 10,606 GRT and 6,724 NRT. Her passenger accommodations varied over her career, providing space for 40 first-class and 800 steerage passengers originally, and later expanded to include 71 first, 74 second, and 1,954 steerage passengers. The crew numbered around 225. Constructed as yard number 600 by Sir J. Laing & Co Ltd in Sunderland, she was launched on 15 November 1902, and was notably the largest ship built at a British shipyard for eleven years and the largest ever launched on the River Wear at that time. Completed in June 1903, she was originally named Yamuna and served the British India Steam Navigation Company. In 1904, she was sold to Cunard and renamed Slavonia, serving on a route between the Mediterranean and New York City. Her maiden voyage for Cunard commenced on 17 March 1904, with a route that included Trieste, Fiume, and Palermo. The ship was well-equipped with lifesaving gear, including twelve lifeboats, seven collapsible boats, and numerous lifebelts. Slavonia's service ended after her tragic grounding in foggy conditions at Ponta dos Fenais, Flores, Azores, on 10 June 1909 during her final voyage from New York. She sent an SOS—the first recorded use of this distress signal—and was subsequently abandoned and declared a total loss. All passengers and crew were rescued by the ships Prinzess Irene and Batavia, with some taken to Gibraltar and others to Naples. The wreck was looted afterward, and some cargo was salvaged. An inquiry attributed her loss to navigational errors, with her captain reprimanded for excessive speed and off-course navigation, though not losing his license. The incident highlighted the importance of caution when navigating unfamiliar waters. The rescue efforts were recognized with awards, and the incident remains a significant event in maritime history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.