'Mahroussa was an ocean-going steamer, as big or bigger than many
of the liners of its time. She was designed by Oliver Lang (designer of
Queen Victoria's first steam yacht, the Victoria and Albert) and built
in 1865 at their Poplar works on the Thames by the Samuda Brothers,
who were among the pioneers of iron shipbuilding and beginning to
specialize in ironclad warships. The original design had paddle wheel
propulsion, but the ship was converted in 1905 to turbines and triple
screws.' (http://www.innerwheel95.org/visits_alex.php)
1865 - present
'Our big ship looked quite small and poor after the gorgeous
Mahroussa, the latter being one mass of silk hangings, Gobelins,
gildings, mirrors, tables of Italian marble, mosaic, mother-of-
pearl, &c.'
Catharina Therése L.F.E. Fouché (duchesse d'Otrante.) 1869.
Mahroussa, the latter being one mass of silk hangings, Gobelins,
gildings, mirrors, tables of Italian marble, mosaic, mother-of-
pearl, &c.'
Catharina Therése L.F.E. Fouché (duchesse d'Otrante.) 1869.
| 'The graceful 478 by 43 foot, 3,762 ft
iron-hulled SS Mahroussa was built in England in 1865 by the Samuda Brothers of Poplar, London for the ruler of Egypt, Khedive Ismail Pasha. The vessel was designed along the same lines as the British Royal Yacht, HMY Victoria and Albert. The Mahroussa was the Egyptian Royal Yacht until the monarchy was overthrown in 1952. |
|||
| Her greatest claim to historical fame is that, as the Egyptian
royal yacht, she was among the first ships leading the procession through the brand new Suez Canal in 1869 with L'Aigle, imperial yacht of Napoleon III of France. Royal Yacht is in this case a misleading term - Mahroussa was an ocean-going steamer, as big or bigger than many of the liners of its time. She was designed by Oliver Lang (designer of Queen Victoria's first steam yacht, the Victoria and Albert) and built in 1865 at their Poplar works on the Thames by the Samuda Brothers, who were among the pioneers of iron shipbuilding and beginning to specialize in ironclad warships. The original design had paddle wheel propulsion, but the ship was converted in 1905 to turbines and triple screws. |
|
||
| Sometime in the latter 19th century, she
was cut in two and had approx. 40' added to her length. She was rebuilt in 1905/6 in Italy and became one of the earliest ships of any size to be fitted with steam turbines. She was refitted and modernized in Italy in the late 1940s/early 1950s. After the abdication of King Farouk, she was taken over by the Egyptian government for use as a naval training ship, and renamed El Horria (Al Horreyya) and has since served in that role and, off and on, as the presidential yacht. She is considered to be an historical shrine by the Egyptian Navy at Alexandria. In 1976, at the age of 111 years, she steamed to New York to take part in the US bicentennial celebration. The ship's condition is immaculate, and duty in her is considered a great honor in the Egyptian Naval Forces. El Horria goes to sea about three times a year, usually just for the day.' http://www.innerwheel95.org/visits_alex.php |