Motor yachtMalta flagIMO 1000239

Emerald

Moored in Toulon.

Signal 2 min ago 43.10292°N, 5.90545°E Destination La Seyne

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Length49 m

Beam8.0 m

Draught2.7 m

FlagMalta

Scale: 20 mIndicative profile

This is Emerald

Emerald was a steam yacht that was launched in Glasgow in 1902 for the shipbuilder, shipowner, and politician Sir Christopher Furness. She was an early example of a yacht powered by steam turbines.

Emerald

Alexander Stephen and Sons in Linthouse, Glasgow built Emerald as yard number 397. She was launched on 21 October 1902, and completed in April 1903. Her length was 211.7 ft (64.5 m), her beam was 28.6 ft (8.7 m), and her depth was 16.95 ft (5.17 m). Her tonnages were 694 GRT, 472 NRT, and 757 Thames Measurement. She had three screws, each driven by a Parsons steam turbine. The combined power of her three turbines was rated at 230 NHP, and gave her a speed of 13 knots (24 km/h). She had one funnel, two masts, and was rigged as a schooner. Her United Kingdom official number was 115147, and her code letters were TWNF.

Reciprocating engine

By May 1909, J. Samuel White of Cowes had replaced the steam turbine on her middle propeller shaft with a three-cylinder triple-expansion engine. The combined power of her reciprocating and turbine engines was rated at 315 NHP.

Beryl

Furness died in November 1912. In December 1913 she was moored in Rosneath Bay. Five days before Christmas, she was burnt out by fire. The Glasgow Herald reported: "Fire broke out in the after peak, spreading so quickly through the inflammable interior that before any substantial help could be brought to the scene, the vessel was a mass of flames, and practically beyond hope of saving." It was alleged that suffragettes caused the fire by arson. However, no evidence was presented, and no-one was charged with any offence. She was used as a coal hulk at Gare Loch.

Recently at sea

She is among the largest 30% of yachts tracked by Yacht Tracker. Over the past 30 days she spent 2 days at sea, covering about 200 km. Of late she has spent most of her time in Toulon (France). Yacht Tracker has been following her position since October 18, 2026.

Sources: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikidata.