A whole plate negative. A broadside view of the experimental cross channel paddle steamer Bessemer (1875) at moorings in Gravesend Reach, River Thames, during her delivery voyage from Hull to Dover. A spritsail barge is passing between her and the Tilbury shore. She was designed for the Dover-Calais service and has four engines and four paddle wheels and her bow and stern have very low freeboards. A rudder is fitted at each end of the ship. The entire central portion of the ship is taken up with a passenger saloon suspended on gimbals. She was taken out of service after only a few crossings proved she was entirely unsatisfactory, being too slow and with very poor low speed manoeuverability.