Turbinia Turbinia Turbinia was the first steam turbine-powered steamship. Built as an experimental vessel in 1894, and easily the fastest ship in the world at that time, "Turbinia" was demonstrated dramatically at the Spithead Navy Review in 1897 and set the standard for the next generation of steamships, the majority of which would be turbine powered. The vessel is currently located at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England, while her original powerplant is located at the London Science Museum. Charles Algernon Parsons invented the modern steam turbine in 1884, and, having foreseen its potential to power ships,
Steamship the firm of Maudslay, Sons & Field, producing 750 indicated horsepower between them. The ship proved satisfactory in service and initiated the transatlantic route, acting as a model for all following Atlantic paddle-steamers. The Cunard Line's began her first regular passenger and cargo service by a steamship in 1840, sailing from Liverpool to Boston. In 1847 the revolutionary , also built by Brunel, became the first iron-hulled screw-driven ship to cross the Atlantic. The SS "Great Britain" was the first ship to combine these two innovations. After the initial success of its first liner, SS "Great Western" of 1838, the