The SS City of Paris was a British passenger liner built in 1865 by Tod and Macgregor for the Inman Line, marking a significant milestone in maritime history by demonstrating that screw propulsion could match the speed of traditional paddle steamers across the Atlantic. She measured approximately 397 feet (121 meters) in length after her later modifications, with a gross tonnage increased to around 3,100 tons following her lengthening in 1873. Originally powered by a screw propeller, she was designed for the Liverpool–New York route, serving as one of Inman Line’s premier fast liners. Upon entering service in 1866, City of Paris quickly established herself as a competitive vessel, reportedly achieving a Blue Riband-winning voyage in November 1866 from Queenstown to New York at an average speed of 13.75 knots. Her performance was notable during the fierce competition with the Cunard Line, especially exemplified in the February 1868 race against the Cunard liner Russia, where she completed the crossing in just under nine days, emphasizing her speed and engineering advancements. Throughout the 1870s, she maintained a reputation for lower passage times, contributing to Inman’s reputation for efficient and fast transatlantic service. In her service life, City of Paris underwent significant modifications, including lengthening and re-engining with compound engines to stay competitive. She also participated in noteworthy events such as grounding outside Cape Town in 1879 while transporting troops, from which she was later refloated. Her passenger capacity was approximately 150 cabins and 400 steerage passengers, reflecting her role in both passenger and immigrant transport. In 1884, she was sold to A Hoffnung & Company and later participated in the wave of Portuguese immigration to Hawaii, arriving in Honolulu with 824 Portuguese immigrants. Subsequently, she was sold to French owners and renamed Tonquin, used to transport troops from Marseille to Tonkin. Her career ended when she sank off Málaga in 1885 after colliding with the steamship Maurice et Réunion, resulting in the loss of the master and 23 crew members. The SS City of Paris remains a noteworthy example of the transition to screw propulsion and the competitive evolution of Atlantic passenger liners in the late 19th century.

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