The Hammonia (3) was built on the Clyde (Glasgow) by J. & G. Thomson & Co. Her hull was entirely constructed in steel and was divided into nine watertight compartments. The unusual width of the ship (breadth of beam about 45 feet), afforded her great stability. She was built with four decks and was constructed with a double bottom. She had tanks between the inner and outer shells with a capacity for holding about 500 tons of water ballast. The first cabin was placed forward of the engines where the motion of the propeller was least felt. The second cabin was aft of this and in the place where the first cabin of the other German vessels were usually situated. Both saloons extended the entire width of the vessel. The first cabin contained accommodations for 100 passengers, while there were berths for the same number in the second cabin. The staterooms were elegantly furnished and contained every facility for comfort. Adjoining the first cabin, which was fitted up in a very costly manner, was a reception-room or parlor. The between decks (steerage) had a hight of 8 feet and had steerage accommodations for about 700 passengers. The vessel was lighted by electric lamps which were powered by a Tangye engine of 30 horse power. There were in all 120 electric lamps in different parts of the vessel, each lamp had an oil lamp connected as a backup in case of interrupted power supply. The main deck was partially covered with houses containing quarters for officers, and also afforded a fine promenade.

Several steam pumps were used for driving fresh air down the ventilator system into all portions of the vessel. There was also telegraphic communication among all parts of the ship. The side lights were placed in miniature lighthouses on either side of the forward deck. There were 10 lifeboats, 8 of which were unusually large compared to what was custom on similar ships. The lifeboats were provided with patent self acting pulleys, from which it was supposed to be impossible to detach until the boats were afloat and evenly balanced.

The engines of the Hammonia were of about 4,500-horse power, and enabled her to maintain a speed of about 16 knots for up till one hour against a strong current. The boilers were of steel and were heated by 24 furnaces. The shaft was of Krupp cast steel, and the four bladed screw was of Sheffield steel. The Hammonia was provided with steam appliances for loading and unloading. There were 11 steam pumps, one of which could raise 600 tons of water per hour.

In addition to the steam steering apparatus on the bridge there were two extra sets of steering gear which worked by steam and one large wheel aft which had to be worked by hand. The rig of the Hammonia was originally that of a three-masted schooner. Her first master was Commodore H. F. Schwensen which had already made 300 trips across the Atlantic before taking command of the Hammonia.