The SS (RMS) Mona (III) was a steel paddle steamer built in 1889 by Faifields of Govan. Originally named Calais-Douvres, she measured approximately 324 feet 5 inches (98.88 meters) in length, with a beam of 35 feet 9 inches (10.90 meters) and a depth of 13 feet 5 inches (4.09 meters). Designed for passenger service, she was certified to carry 1,212 passengers and had a crew complement of 59. Her powerful engines produced 5,400 indicated horsepower (around 4,000 kW), and her sea trials recorded a top speed of approximately 18.86 knots, although her actual service speed was often reported as around 18 knots. Notably, she was capable of impressive speeds, with reports of a voyage from Dover to Calais completed in under an hour at an average speed of 22.6 knots. Launched on 6 April 1889, Calais-Douvres served the English Channel under the London, Chatham and Dover Railway Company, operating between Calais and Dover. She is historically significant for being the vessel on which Queen Victoria made her last trip to continental Europe. In 1901, she was transferred to Higginbottom's Liverpool and Douglas Steamers Ltd, operating on the Irish Sea and competing with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. Following the death of Higginbottom and the liquidation of the company in December 1902, she was purchased by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in July 1903 for £6,000, after which she was renamed Mona. Mona’s service with the Steam Packet commenced on 23 July 1903, under Captain Hill, with routes connecting Liverpool, Douglas, and Ramsey. During her operational years, she transported passengers, including members of the Herefordshire Volunteers, and was involved in a notable incident in 1904 when a passenger died of heart failure while en route from Liverpool to Douglas. Mona was the last paddle steamer acquired for the Isle of Man Steam Packet fleet. After six years of service, she was sold for scrap in 1909. Her construction, speed capabilities, and role in regional maritime history underscore her importance as a late 19th-century paddle steamer.

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