The "Mauretania" built at Swan Hunter Wigson & Richardson's yard at Wallsend on the Tyne for the Cunard Steamship Company Limited being fitted-out in 1906. The ship was said to be the largest and fastest steamship intended for the transatlantic route to New York. She was 762 ft (232 m) long with a deadweight of 32,000 tons.

"During the short trip down the ways the vessel, weighing 16,800 tons in launch condition, reached a speed of 14 knots and 1015 tons of drag chains were required to stop it. It took 14.5 tons of tallow, 113 gallons of train oil and 1 ton of soft soap, applied to the ways, to get the vessel moving. The ship was then towed to special mooring dolphins in the river for fitting out." According to a Newcastle Museum's website.

The same shipyard was to build the pontoon for the Penarth Pontoon and Slipway Company Limited three years later! [062]