The iron screw steamer Gitana, 664 tons, was built for the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company's regular Hamburg service. Launched from the yards of T. & W. Smith of North Shields in 1855, she measured 203½ feet in length, with a 26 foot beam, and was driven by 100 h.p. engines made at Robert Stephenson's Newcastle works. Operated by her original owners until 1870, she was then sold to C.M. Webster who continued to run her on the same North Sea route. Re-engined by Richardson's of Hartlepool in 1873, after which she was granted a Board of Trade licence to carry 374 passengers, she continued in service until she was wrecked near the Wings in December 1875.