In the 1880s RMSP introduced a series of larger new ships to improve its scheduled services between Southampton, South America and the Caribbean.

[1] After Orinoco's success RMSP ordered two more ships to an improved and enlarged version of the design from Robert Napier and Sons of Govan.

[2] Orinoco had only a small amount of deck housing, and was the last square-rigged sail-steamer to be built for RMSP.

The four Napier-built ships were more modern, each with a full superstructure deck and rigged as a three-masted schooner.

[7] Atrato was designed to meet the standards for an armed merchant cruiser, for which the UK Government would pay a subvention.

However, in April 1888, before she had been launched, the Admiralty deemed that she her engine was not powerful enough, and she lacked enough capacity for armament, for the subvention to be paid for her.

There she worked her way down the east coast, calling at Pernambuco, Maceió, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Montevideo and Buenos Aires.

[4] This was short-lived as the new colour showed any grime, rust and soot, and white paint was three times the price of black.

[13] In May 1905 RMSP ordered insulation and refrigeration to be fitted to part of their cargo space to enable Orinoco and Atrato to carry fresh fruit.

[14] Despite having rejected Atrato as an armed merchant cruiser in 1888, the Admiralty requisitioned her after the UK entered the First World War in 1914.

[12] The patrol was ordered to find and stop the neutral Norwegian America Line ship Bergensfjord, which the UK Government believed was carrying a suspected German spy.

On 13 January 1915 she sank with all hands in heavy seas off Tory Island, County Donegal, Ireland.