The Greenock Dockyard Company built all members of the class.

Most members of the class had two triple-expansion engines, each coupled to a low-pressure exhaust steam turbine.

The exception was Lanarkshire, which was built with six turbines and no reciprocating engines,[1] Clan line owned 16 Cameron-class ships.

Two members of the class were built for Scottish Shire Line, which was closely associated with Clan Line: Three members of the class were launched and owned as Empire ships.

The Admiralty requisitioned three members of the class for the Royal Navy in 1942 while they were being built: