The PS Queen Victoria was a wooden-hulled paddle steamer constructed in 1838 by Wilson shipbuilders in Glasgow, Scotland, specifically for the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company. Measuring approximately 150 feet in length, the vessel was propelled by a two-cylinder steam engine, a common propulsion system for paddle steamers of that era. Her design and construction reflected the maritime technology of the early Victorian period, intended for passenger and cargo service along Irish and British routes. The ship’s service history culminated in a tragic wreck on the night of February 14-15, 1853. While en route from Liverpool to Dublin with cargo and about 100 passengers, Queen Victoria encountered a severe snowstorm near the Irish coast at Howth. As she approached the harbor, the vessel struck Howth Head around 2:00 am. The captain attempted to back the ship away from the headland to navigate into the harbor, but the damage proved more severe than initially thought. The vessel quickly began to fill with water, drifted, and struck below the Baily Lighthouse. Within approximately 15 minutes of the second impact, she sank about 100 yards south of the lighthouse, resulting in the loss of over 80 lives, including the captain. Only one lifeboat with 17 passengers managed to reach shore safely. The disaster prompted a Board of Trade inquiry, which attributed blame to the ship’s captain, first officer, and the lighthouse crew, especially noting the delay in installing a fog bell at Howth Lighthouse—a safety measure finally implemented in April 1853, partly as a consequence of the wreck. Efforts to recover the vessel were unsuccessful, and the wreck remains in place to this day. Discovered in 1983 by members of the Marlin Sun Aqua Club in Dublin, the wreck was the first Irish shipwreck to be protected under the National Monuments Act (Historic Wreck) in 1984. It has since become a significant site for underwater exploration and maritime heritage.

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