The Atlantic steamer British Princess in the Channel

Built by Harland & Wolff at Belfast in 1882, the screw steamer British Princess was laid down to the order of the British Shipowners' Company and offered for charter upon completion. Launched that December, she was registered in Liverpool at 3,995 tons gross (2,558 net) and measured 420 feet in length with a 42 foot beam. Engined by her builders, she had a service speed of 12 knots and carried an auxiliary barque-rig on her four masts.

The British Shipowners' Company had had an association with the American Line since 1878 and so pleased were they with the former's vessels that British Princess was chartered as soon as she was ready for sea and immediately put onto the American Line's North Atlantic service. Clearing Liverpool for her maiden voyage to Philadelphia on 28th April 1883, she was retained on the same route until 1895 when she was sold to French buyers who renamed her Les Alpes. After fifteen years under the tricolour, she was finally scrapped at Marseilles in 1910.