Built in 1888 under yard No 61 as a steel screw paddle-steamer by the yard of John Scott & Co., Kinghorn, Fife, Scotland for the London, Woolwich & Clacton Steamboat Co.
08 May 1888 launched under the name CLACTON named after the seaport resort Clacton-on-Sea on the River Thames.
Tonnage 241 gross, dim. 190 x 2 x 8ft.
Powered by a 2-cyl. steam engine, 900 ihp., service speed 18½ knots by 40 rpm.
Two Scotch boilers operating at 100lbs/sqin.
Passenger accommodation for 500 passengers.
Used in the daily passenger service between London to Clacton-on-Sea.
17 May 1888 maiden voyage.
The company was formed by the Clacton Pier Company, as the River Thames Steamboat Co, but had not been paying its pier dues as a result of financial difficulties and the CLACTON was their first vessel.
She was a great improvement on the River Thames Company boats, had a large saloon of 40 feet long extending the whole breadth of the vessel. Beneath this was a fine dining saloon and the quarterdeck formed a shaded retreat under an awing. She developed a speed of 16 knots on the measured mile. To facilitate passing under the London Bridge, the CLACTON had a telescopic funnel and a hinged mast but the rake of the mast was different to that of the funnel, which somewhat spoiled the symmetry of the vessels appearance.
General Steam Navigation Company increased their fleet by five new vessels, all built by Scott at Kinghorn between 1887-1889 and therefore had ships available for the Clacton run.
The CLACTON running only one season was sold.
1888 Sold to Surgonndje, Constantinople, Turkey, renamed AYDIN (English spelling in Lloyds AIDIN.)
In use as a Bosporus ferry. She was one of the first Turkish steamers to carry anything like 110 lbs. of steam and in consequence gave a good deal of trouble to the Turkish engineers. For a time an English engineer in the employ of the Turkish Government was placed on board.
The Bosporus boats were notorious for overcrowding and the AYDIN when carrying a full load, generally had a bad list with her sponsons touching the water.
1898 Sold to Idarei Massousich, Constantinople, not renamed.
1911 Removed from service.
1913 broken up.
Turkey 2001 500.000L sg?, scott?
Source: MARHST-L. John D. Stevenson. David Asprey. Steamers of the Thames & Medway by Frank Burtt’s.