The SS (RMS) Mona's Queen was an iron paddle-steamer built in 1852 by J. & G. Thomson of Govan, Glasgow. She was the first vessel in the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's fleet to bear the name Mona's Queen and served as a notable example of mid-19th-century maritime engineering. The ship measured 186 feet in length, with a beam of 27 feet and a depth of 13 feet, and had a registered tonnage of approximately 600 tons. Her top speed was recorded at 13 knots, though her horsepower figures are not documented. Mona's Queen was distinguished by her figurehead of Queen Victoria and was part of the company's transition away from reliance on Robert Napier & Co. She was powered by steam engines, and her construction marked a significant investment, with an estimated cost of under £14,000. In 1855, she underwent a lengthening modification, though specific details of the expansion are not recorded, at a cost of £2,111. Throughout her career, Mona's Queen experienced relatively uneventful service, with the exception of a notable incident in January 1862 when she collided with the steamer Sligo in the River Mersey. An official inquiry into the collision found in favor of the steamer Sligo, resulting in the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company being liable for approximately £300 in damages and costs. The incident also led to a reduction in the captain's rank and pay. After a decade of service, the company considered selling Mona's Queen, offering her first to Cunard, Wilson and Co. for £20,000, but the offer was declined. Negotiations with a Whitehaven company for a sale at £14,000 also fell through by mid-1864. Ultimately, Mona's Queen remained with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company until her dismantling in 1880, marking nearly three decades of service and reflecting her role in the evolution of steam-powered passenger vessels in northern Britain.

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