Cosens & Co

It operated a fleet of paddle steamers on excursions along the south coast of England and on cross channel trips to Cherbourg and Alderney.

It also operated a number of launches offering "trips round the bay" as well as tugs serving ships using Weymouth harbour.

Up to the end of World War I the company held the Admiralty contract to operate liberty boats for naval ships at Portland.

Cosens' response to this was to expand the company by going into partnership with wealthy local newspaper proprietor, Joseph Drew, in order to obtain a new ship.

The new ship, named Prince, was designed and built by John Scott Russell, famous later as the builder of the ill-fated Great Eastern.