Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - The Penarth Shipbuilding & Ship Repairing Company Limited . . .

1883 - Launch of a Passenger Steamer at Penarth - 'At nine o-clock on Saturday morning there was launched from the slipway, at Penarth, a fine new steamer, built to meet the increasing requirements of the large passenger traffic between Cardiff and Penarth. The vessel is a double ended paddle boat, and was launched with engines and boiler on board.

She has ample shelter on deck, and a large and airy cabin for passengers. The following are the dimensions of the vessel - 90 feet long, 18 feet beam, and 6 feet depth of hold. She will be ready to run early next month. The steamer has been built to the order of the Cardiff and Penarth Steam Ferry Company, Limited, and as she left the ways Miss Imgram, of Penarth, gracefully performed the orthodox christening ceremony, naming the steamer the 'Iona'.

Amongst those present were Mr John Fry and Captain C. W. Ingram, directors of the company ; Mr H. J. Vellacott, manager ; Mr R. Monroe, manager of the Slipway Company ; Mr E. Cross, Mr C. M. Jacobs, Rev. C. W. H. Browne, &c. The company intend running the boat to the beach by the Kymin during the summer months, and also propose providing better facilities for landing at Penarth.' - South Wales Daily News - [325] [361]  - 29th January 1883.

Glamorgan Archives Crew Records confirm that in the years 1884 - 1893 the owner was H. J. Vellacott and the master Rees Thomas, Cardiff. The master was F. Harwood in 1896. Ownership was changed to the Cardiff and Penarth Steam Ferry Company, master Rees Thomas, from 1890 to 1891. From January 1902 she was owned by Thomas Morell of Cardiff at which time the master reverted back to F. Harwood. [599]