[1] The ship was powered by a single 2-cylinder, vertical marine steam engine that drove a screw propeller.

The propulsion system was capable of generating 1,300 indicated horsepower (970 kW), for a top speed of 10.8 knots (20.0 km/h; 12.4 mph).

The ship was fitted with a three-masted sailing rig to supplement the steam engine on long voyages.

[1] The keel for Donau was laid down at the Navale Adriatico shipyard in Trieste on 18 June 1873, and she was launched on 15 October 1874.

[1] In 1885, Donau embarked on an overseas cruise, which took the ship to visit New York City, United States, and several ports in the West Indies.