Despite Matheran being a bigger ship than Mahratta, the tow was completed at an average speed of 7.32 knots (13.56 km/h).

[3] On 9 October 1939, Mahratta was inbound to London from Calcutta when she ran aground on the Goodwins.

[2] Mahratta had originally been bound for Liverpool but received new orders at Gibraltar to sail to London.

The ferry suffered extensive damage to her port propeller and had to be assisted to berth in Dover.

It is not clear whether the wreck site named in the MAIB report is that of the first SS Mahratta or the later vessel.