Built as an uncommissioned project, Asiatic was launched on 1st
December, 1870 and purchased by The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company whilst
she was being fitted out. The White Star Line put her into service on the
Calcutta route from March 1871; however, this proved to be an unprofitable
run and in 1872, she was placed on a route to South America (initially -
for one voyage only - chartered by Lamport & Holt). On 25th February,
1873, Asiatic began her first voyage to South America for White Star
- but failed to attain financial success.
She & her sister ship Tropic (1) were sold in 1873 in order to
regain capital lost when Asiatic ran aground and sank. Asiatic
was purchased by the African Steam Ship Company - which later became Elder,
Dempster Lines. Renamed Ambriz, she was their largest ship at that
time and commenced her first sailing to West Africa on 12th September. Refitted
and reboilered in December 1883, in the following year she was placed on
the Liverpool to New Orleans cotton run. In 1896, She was sold to Cie Francaise
Charbonnage et de la Batelage a Madagasgar of Majunga and deployed as a mobile
coal depot ship. When fuel stocks required replenishing, she steamed to a
port in Europe - usually Cardiff, Wales - to fill up with coal. In February,
1903, she was wrecked on the coast of Madagasgar. |
