IVERNIA I

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Ivernia I
FROM 1900 TO 1917

Gross Tonnage - 14,058  
Dimensions - 177.38 x 19.77m (582 x 64.9ft)  
Number of funnels - 1  
Number of masts - 4  
Construction - Steel  
Propulsion - Twin-screw  
Engines - Eight-cylindered quadruple-expansion  
Service speed - 15 knots  
Builder - Swan & Hunter, Wallsend-on-Tyne
 (engines by Wallsend Slipway Co.Ltd. 
Launch date - 21 September 1899   
Passenger accommodation - 164 1st class, 200 2nd class,
 1,600 3rd class 
 
 
At the close of the 19th century Cunard began a programme
 of rebuilding which was to culminate in the production
 of the Lusitania and Mauretania. This was largely due
 to the fact that a large part of the fleet was either
 outdated or on loan to the government. For the Liverpool
 to Boston route Cunard required ships with ample cargo
 capacity and passenger accommodation. In 1898 orders were
 placed for two 14,000 ton vessels, the Ivernia and Saxonia. 

The Ivernia was launched on 21 September 1899 by the Countess
 of Ravensworth. After a period of trials it made its maiden
 voyage on 14 April 1900 from Liverpool to New York, instead
 of Boston, as it was required to cover for vessels on hire
 to the government as troop transports for the War in South
 Africa. It began on its intended route, Liverpool to Boston,
 on 12 June that year. Over the coming years the Ivernia 
 earned a reputation for reliability and steadiness at sea.
 When it was launched it was the largest cargo vessel afloat.
 The passenger accommodation was simple and practical. 
 
It was not until 1911 that the Ivernia was involved in any
 serious incident. After leaving Boston for Queenstown on
 16 May it encountered heavy fog on the approach to Queenstown
 harbour. Despite the fog-guns being fired at regular intervals
 by the seamen on Daunt's Rock Lightship the Ivernia continued
 and struck the submerged Daunt's Rock. The collision tore a
 huge hole in the stern of the ship but it managed to to reach
 the harbour. All passengers were disembarked but the ship was
 taking on too much water so it was decided to beach it on the
 spitbank. Temporary repairs were carried out at Queenstown
 and then it was moved to Liverpool for permanent repairs.
 Captain Potter, of the Ivernia was reprimanded and fined. 
 
The Ivernia returned to service on 17 October 1911, however,
 it was shortly transferred to the Mediterranean service
 running the route from Trieste and Fiume to New York.
 This mainly catered for Italian and Hungarian emigrants. 
 
Following the outbreak of World War I, in July 1914,
 the Ivernia was hired by the Government as a troop transport.
 Initially the ship was employed making trooping voyages to
 Canada and the Mediterranean. It left Marseilles on
 28 December 1916, bound for Alexandria.
 On 31 December HMS Rifleman joined the ship to escort it
 on the last part of the journey. At 10.12AM on 1 January
 the Ivernia was torpedoed by German submarine U47 58 miles
 south-east of Cape Matapan in Greece. Within one hour the
 ship sank and its survivors were landed at Suda Bay in
 Crete. 36 crew members and 84 troops were killed in the disaster.