Asia first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1799 with Lilbourn, master, Flemming, owner, and trade London transport.

British ships were then free to sail to India or the Indian Ocean under a license from the EIC.

[4] On 8 June 1814 Captain W. Hall sailed Asia to Bombay under a licensed from the EIC.

Her round trip had taken eight months and 18 days, something that apparently Lloyd's List (LL) thought worth remarking on.

On 4 March 1818 Asia was at Ramsgate, having returned from Bombay, when a gale caught her and other vessels there.