ss volturno was a steel-hulled ship built for 80,000 gbp in 1906 by the fairfield shipbuilding and engineering company of govan, scotland for navigazione italo-americano of naples. the ship had twin screw propellers, each powered by a coal-fired triple-expansion steam engine. the vessel was about 354 feet long and about 43 feet in width, and had a modest top speed of around 14 knots. the ship was used for hauling a mixed load cargo and passengers, a small portion of whom were in first class (or cabin), and the majority of whom were in third class (or steerage). burned and sank in the north atlantic in october 1913. she was a royal line ship under charter to the uranium line at the time of the fire. after the ship issued sos signals, eleven ships came to her aid and, in heavy seas and gale winds, rescued 520 passengers and crewmen. about 130 people?most of them women and children in lifeboats launched unsuccessfully prior to the arrival of the rescue ships?died in the incident.