Built in 1873 by the Gilbert and Cooper shipyards (Hull), the ship was christened Elguezabal, Ballesreros No. 2, then Derwent and finally Ramon Meumbru. Measuring 80 meters long and 11 meters wide, the Ramon had a tonnage of 1153 tons. This ship, with an exceptional characteristic for its time, had several names before arriving in Cavalaire-sur-Mer.