HMS Orotava

The OROTAVA was built in 1889 by Barrow Shipbuilding Co. at Barrow with a tonnage of 5857grt, a length of 430ft, a beam of 49ft 3in and a service speed of 14.5 knots. She was built for the Liverpool to Valparaiso service and made two voyages before being transferred to Orient Line management and deployment on the Australian service via the Suez Canal. She commenced her first voyage to Sydney via Suez and Melbourne on 6th June 1890.In 1896, whilst coaling at Tilbury, she capsized with the loss of 4 lives. She was raised and refurbished and resumed service to Australia in 1897. During the Boer War from 1899 to 1903 she was used as War Transport No. 91 but retaining her PSNC livery. She returned to the Australia service on 13th March 1903. In February 1906 ownership was transferred to Royal Mail Line but remained on the Australia service. On 5th March 1909 she commenced her last voyage to Australia before transferring to the West Indies routes. In 1914 she joined the “B” Line of the 10th Cruiser Squadron and in 1919 was sold and broken up.
taken from the History of the Merchant Navy http://www.red-duster.co.uk/wp/ (accessed 17/12/2018)