A passenger-cargo ship, Mona was an important vessel in the history of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

She proved much more economical to run and far better suited to winter service than the paddle steamers which had previously made up the company's fleet.

[2] Under the command of Captain James Brew, whilst Mona was lying at anchor in the Formby Channel (53°27′0″N 3°02′0″W / 53.45000°N 3.03333°W / 53.45000; -3.03333)[3] in the approaches to Liverpool in 1883, the Spanish steamer Rita collided with her.

Mona's crew, together with two women who were the only passengers on board, took to the lifeboats and were saved, some being picked up by the Formby Lightship.

[3] Ironically, in 1881, Hughes & Co., brokers of Liverpool, who had foreign customers for reasonably new screw steamers, had offered £18,000 for the vessel, but the Steam Packet refused - their price being £21,000.