The SS Savannah was built in 1819 by the New York shipyard, F. & A. Thomson. It was designed by Edward Haviland, a prominent naval architect of the time. The ship was 98 feet (30 meters) long, 25 feet (7.6 meters) wide, and had a draft of 12 feet (3.7 meters). It was equipped with a single-cylinder steam engine, which drove a side paddle wheel. The SS Savannah was originally intended for coastal trade, but its innovative design and steam power made it an attractive candidate for transatlantic voyages.