The SS Hibernia was an iron-hulled steamship constructed in 1861 by Palmer Brothers & Company in Jarrow, County Durham, England. She measured approximately 360 feet (110 meters) in length and 40 feet (12 meters) in breadth, with a hold depth of 29 feet 1 inch (8.86 meters). Her design included three decks and six bulkheads, contributing to her structural integrity. Powered by a 320-horsepower (240 kW) engine, the vessel was capable of supporting extensive operations across the Atlantic. Initially owned by the Atlantic Royal Mail Steamship Navigation Company of London, Hibernia was primarily engaged in carrying mail and passengers. Beyond her passenger and mail services, she played a significant role in cable laying operations worldwide. Her involvement in telegraph cable work was notable; in 1873, she was contracted to assist in repairing the French Atlantic Cable stretching from Brest to Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, under the command of Master Wilson Robert Cato at Sheerness. Hibernia also contributed to the laying of transatlantic telegraph cables, assisting the vessel Great Eastern from Heart's Content, Newfoundland, to Valentia, County Kerry, Ireland, in 1873 and 1874. This cable was initially ordered by the French Atlantic Telegraph Company before its acquisition by the Anglo-American Telegraph Company. After the successful laying of the main cable, Hibernia was tasked with laying shorter cable ends ashore, helping to complete the network. When her cable-laying duties concluded at Heart's Content, she was sent to Brazil to replace broken cables connecting Pará, Maranhão, and Pernambuco. Tragically, Hibernia sank on 21 November 1877 while anchored off Ponta d'Areia near São Luís, Maranhão. Fortunately, all crew members were rescued, and a few miles of cable were recovered from the wreck. Her service exemplifies the vital role of iron steamships in early transoceanic communication and mail services during the 19th century, especially in supporting the burgeoning telegraph infrastructure across continents.

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