Built as a passenger cargo vessel under yard No 489 by Wm. Denny & Bros Co. Dumbarton, Scotland for the Russian SN & Trading Co. (ROPIT), Odessa, Russia.
28 March 1893 ordered.
12 October 1893 launched as the KOROLEYA OLGA (Queen Olga).
Tonnage 4,171 gross, 2479 net, dim. 113 x 13.7 x 7.7m.
Powered by one triple expansion steam engine, manufactured by the shipbuilder, 2,500 ihp, speed 12 knots.
Bunker capacity 720 ton coal.
22 January 1894 trials and delivery.
Mostly used in the trade in the Black Sea.
29 October 1914 seized by Osmanli Government while laid at anchor at Büyükdere (Bosporus)
Brought to Istinye as a prize. Istinye is one of the naval harbours in Istanbul.
03 November 1914 commissioned in the Ottoman Navy as a transport, renamed URLA (Miramar gives VURLA).
Used as a barrack ship for the Turkish/German naval personnel and dockyard workers in Istinye.
She was for a short time under German flag as OLGA used also as a barrack ship
November 1917 in use as a transport.
February 1919 decommissioned, and laid up at Istinye.
01 October 1921 returned to Russian ownership.
February 1921 sold to the Turkish Government.
November 1921 Sold to Türkiye Seyri Sefain Idare (Maritime Organisation), Istanbul, renamed in CUMHÜRIYET (means Republic).
Passengers 36 first, 152 second and 40 third class. Tonnage given as 4,179 grt, 2,479 net.
According to Miramar and Lloyds Register sailed she under the name DJUMHOURIET from 1923 until 1929 before she got the name CUMHÜRIYET..
Most of that time was she commanded by the famous Turkish Captain Aziz Kaptan, the Turkish people loved the ship, special her look with her clipper bow and long bowsprit.
15 January 1952 out of service.
13 March 1954 arrived at La Spezia for scrapping.
Turkey 2008 65 ykrs sg?, scott?
Source: Lloyds Registers. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz The Ottoman Steam Navy by Langensiepen & Güleryüz. Ertugrul Goktunali.
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