When launched on March 29th 1873, she was one of the largest steamships afloat, excepting, the Great Eastern, Her sister vessel was the S/S City of Richmond, which was launched the same year, they were the first two funnellers of the company. The City of Chester was constructed by Caird & Co., of Greenock, on the Clyde, and in ordering the ship the managers of the Inman line gave the builders almost a carte blanche, simply stipulating that the vessel should be a certain size, and have a speed surpassing any of the Transatlantic steamers afloat. On her trial trip, from the Clyde to the Mersey, she made over fifteen knots per hour, in spite of her new machinery, and showed excellent sailing qualities. The company obviously had great expectations to the two sister ships as to gain the Blue Riband of North Atlantic, from the White Star Line ship S/S Adriatic, which had made the record crossing from Queenstown to New York in 7 days, 23 hours and 17 min, but none of them ever gained the Blue Riband. However the City of Chester and the City of Richmond were specially built for the passenger trade, and were equipped with the best of what was available at the time, to meet the comfort of the passengers.

The City of Chester was much larger than the White Star steamers, and any others except, the Egypt, of the National Line which was about the same size. Her engines were compound high and low pressure, direct acting. They were of about 850-horse power, nominal, but capable of working up to 4,500. She had two cylinders, 120 and 30 inches in diameter. The stroke was 5 foot 6 inches, and the steam pressure 70 pounds to the square inch. The steam was supplied by 14 boilers, heated by 28 furnaces. Owing to recent improvements, the consumption of coal was very small considering the size of her engine. The screw was 21 feet in diameter, with a pitch of 28 feet.

She was built in ten watertight compartments. She was ship-rigged, with three masts and two funnels. On the main deck there were eight winches, used in loading and reloading cargo, hoisting suits. In case of emergency, she had twelve boats, and a full complement of hose, buckets and fire-engines. There were two wheel-houses, one forward and one aft, both being worked by steam and signalled by the officer on the bridge.

The saloon for the cabin passengers was situated on the spar-deck, amidships. It extended from side to side, and was about 42 feet square. It fitted up in the most gorgeous style, and was wainscoted all round with highly-polished walnut, divided into panels by fluted filleted Corinthian columns, the fillets, capitals, and bosses were richly gilded, placed upon ebony plinths. The panels were perforated for side lights, and combined with a flood of light admitted by a large and richly ornamented lantern cupola, and reflected by mirrors at both ends of the saloon, added greatly to the general appearance of the apartments. At one end was a handsome piano, library, and an elaborated display of silver plate and crystal gave it the air of a fairy palace. Adjoining the saloon was a small ladies' boudoir, which was also elaborately fitted up, and in close proximity there were ladies' bath-tubs. The gentlemen's bath-rooms were on the other side of the vessel. The baths were made of marble. The water was pumped from the sea, and a saltwater bath could thus be had as often as needed. The staterooms were aft of the saloon on each side, with a passage way in the centre, richly ornamented in imitation of the walls around the City of Chester in England. The staterooms were large, airy, and comfortable, and each contained a wash-stand, mirror, and an electric bell connecting with the pantry. The smoking-room was on the main deck. It was a comfortable apartment and supplied with all the requisites for a smoker's delight. In addition there was a barber-shop on board and a first-class barber constantly on hand to shave and shampoo the cabin passengers.

The accommodation for steerage passengers was forward. The bunks were stationary and the apartments were large, airy, and well ventilated. The City of Chester had accommodation for about 125 1st class-, 80 second class-, and 1,310 steerage passengers.

The following is a list of the officers sailing on the maiden voyage: Captain, James A. Kennedy; first officer, Babbington; second officer, Fairfield; third officer, Heberson; fourth officer, Shrapnell; purser, William Ross; steward, T. Thompson; physician, Black; chief storekeeper, B. Parry; chief engineer, W. Campell; second engineer, L. Hay; third, D. Heberson; fourth, Ed. Noble; fifth, W. R. Wells; sixth, J. Barker; seventh, J. Phillips.