The SS Great Eastern was an innovative steamship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in the 19th century. It was the largest ship ever built at the time, constructed for the Great Eastern Steamship Company. Launched in 1858, the vessel was intended for long-distance voyages to Australia and the Far East. The ship had a double iron hull, a paddlewheel and a screw propeller for propulsion, and a massive funnel that was later removed. The Great Eastern faced issues during its initial voyages, including a boiler explosion that caused casualties. Despite its technical advancements, the ship was not financially successful and was eventually repurposed for laying telegraph cables across the Atlantic. The vessel was later used as a floating billboard and entertainment venue before being broken up for scrap in 1889. The SS Great Eastern remains a significant part of maritime history due to its size, engineering innovations, and the various roles it played over its lifespan.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.