ZULU was built in 1872 by Oswald & Co. at Sunderland with a tonnage of 994grt, a length of 224ft 8in, a beam of 29ft 1in and a service speed of 9 knots.

It was originally intended to name her Zanzibar for the East African coastal service but as Beira became the terminus she entered service as the Zulu.

She was sold to S. Ezekial in 1877.

While on her first voyage under new ownership she was wrecked on 31st July 1877 near Peniche on the coast of Portugal. She was bound from Cardiff to Bombay and was carrying seven passengers and a cargo of coal. No lives were lost.