St Sunniva (I)

This is the steamship St Sunniva, built in 1887 by Hall Russell for the North of Scotland & Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation Company Ltd. As their name suggests, the company operated services to the Northern Isles.

St Sunniva was built for the company's Norwegian cruises, pioneered in 1886. These summer cruises were usually followed by an end of season 'Round Britain' trip. St Sunniva was sometimes chartered in winter: in 1895 the vessel cruised the Mediterranean.

In 1908, the North Company withdrew from cruising in the face of competition from larger vessels. St Sunniva was refitted to carry cargo and livestock as well as passengers and placed on the Aberdeen - Lerwick route. St Sunniva was wrecked at Mousa in 1930, going aground in fog.