The single screw, iron hulled, cargo ship 'Abertawe' was launched during May 1884 at the Jarrow yard of Palmer's Ship Building & Iron Company Limited. Her vital statistics were 240.5 ft. long x 33.2 ft. breath x 18.1 ft. depth being of 1331 gross and 812 net register tons. She was originally built for the Abertawe Steamship Company Limited (Letricheux & David) of Swansea.

In 1909 she was sold to Cie des Chargeurs Francais (Plisson et Cie) at Le Harve and renamed 'Marie'.

During April 1919 she collided with the Swedish steamship 'Signe' whilst on a voyage from Penarth to Bayonne loaded with a cargo of coal. She was a total loss. [425]