She is notable as the first ship in the World whose turbines drove her propeller by reduction gearing instead of direct drive.

Direct-drive turbine ships used more coal and water than steamships with reciprocating engines, and they were suitable only for services in which they could sustain speeds of 16 knots (30 km/h) or more.

In 1897 a 22-foot (6.7 m) steam launch was built with a single turbine driving twin propellers via helical reduction gearing.

The Parsons company renamed the ship Vespasian, thoroughly overhauled her, and tested her triple-expansion engine for coal and water consumption.

Parsons replaced the engine with twin steam turbines that drove her propeller shaft by reduction gearing.

[2] William Doxford & Sons installed the turbines in the cargo ship Lord Byron, which was launched in 1916 and completed in 1917.