The SS Canadian was an iron-hulled passenger vessel built by Robert Steele & Company in Greenock, Scotland, and launched on December 10, 1859. Completed in March 1860, the ship measured approximately 301.6 feet in length, with a beam of 35.9 feet and a depth of 16.6 feet. She was designed to carry both passengers and cargo, with a registered tonnage of 1,926 gross register tons (GRT) and 1,310 net register tons (NRT). The vessel featured a single screw propulsion system powered by a two-cylinder compound engine, allowing her to reach speeds of up to 14 knots. The Canadian's service history was brief but notable. On June 4, 1861, she departed from Quebec bound for Liverpool with 60 crew members and 241 passengers aboard. During her voyage through the Strait of Belle Isle, adverse weather conditions and ice began to form. Despite slowing to 5 knots, the ship struck an iceberg roughly four nautical miles north of Cape Bauld at approximately 11:50 a.m. The collision caused her three watertight compartments to flood rapidly. Due to the low speed and the timing during lunchtime, most passengers were unaware of the impending disaster until crew members began preparing the lifeboats. The sinking was swift; all lifeboats except No. 8 were successfully launched. Tragically, No. 8 capsized during lowering, resulting in at least 30 fatalities. The ship sank within about thirty minutes of the impact. Among the casualties was mail officer James Panton, celebrated for his heroism in aiding passengers and crew to evacuate, and for giving up his seat to a female passenger. Panton was last seen hanging from a rope as the vessel went under. Rescue efforts were prompt, with four French fishing vessels rescuing the 266 survivors and transporting them to Quirpon Bay. The disaster resulted in 35 deaths, making it a significant maritime tragedy of the period, highlighting the dangers of Arctic navigation and the importance of maritime safety.

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