The SS Doric was a British ocean liner built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast and launched on 10 March 1883. She was a sister ship to the Ionic, both being enlarged versions of earlier ships such as the Arabic and the Coptic. Constructed from steel—marking a departure from the traditional iron—Doric measured approximately 134 meters in length and 13.5 meters in beam. Her initial gross tonnage was 4,744 tons, later increased to 4,784 tons after a refit in 1895. The vessel was designed to carry both cargo and passengers, with capacity for 70 first-class passengers and up to 900 emigrants, complemented by a refrigerated hold for meat transport. Externally, the Doric featured the elongated hull characteristic of White Star Line ships, with a low funnel painted in the company's brown ocher color topped with a black cuff. Four masts, capable of carrying sails, surrounded the funnel, emphasizing her dual steam and sail propulsion. Her steam engines were among the first built by Harland & Wolff themselves, initially operating with compound machinery capable of reaching 13 knots, later upgraded in 1895 to triple expansion engines, increasing her speed to 14 knots. Service-wise, the Doric was initially chartered to operate on the London to Wellington route, in conjunction with the New Zealand Shipping Company and later the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line. She made her maiden voyage in 1884 and participated in joint services until 1893, when she was replaced by newer ships like the Gothic. Subsequently, she was transferred to routes between Hong Kong and San Francisco under the Occidental and Oriental Steamship Company, and later the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, which renamed her Asia. Her notable cargo included the largest shipment of opium and tea recorded at the time. Her maritime career ended in 1911 when she ran aground near the Taichow Islands in China. After all passengers and crew were rescued, she was looted and set ablaze by local fishermen, marking a tragic end to her service. The SS Doric remains a significant example of late 19th-century ocean liner design and the expansion of maritime trade routes during that era.

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