Scotia was a British passenger liner operated by the Cunard Line that won the Blue Riband in 1863 for the fastest westbound transatlantic voyage.

While the firm already owned screw steamers for the secondary service, Samuel Cunard insisted that paddle wheels be retained for what was to be the line's premier unit.

Scotia and China relieved Asia and Africa on the New York express route, and the older steamers were transferred to the Boston trade.

[2] While Gibbs credits the screw steamer City of Paris of the Inman Line with a Blue Riband voyage in 1866, Scotia is universally considered as the equal of any pre-Oceanic liner.

[1] Although she offered only first-class accommodations used by passengers such as Theodore Roosevelt's family,[4] Scotia was not consistently profitable and China proved to be the better investment.

[2] On 11 March 1904, Scotia approached Guam to deliver cable and spares when she went off course while entering Apra Harbor and ran hard aground on a nearby reef.

On 13 April 1867 the ship is accidentally struck by the submarine Nautilus: "Two and a half metres below the water-line appeared a neat hole in the form of an isosceles triangle.