kˌælɪdˈoʊniə hɐdbɪn sˈɜːvɪŋ æz ɐ kˈoʊstɡɑːɹd vˈɛsəl æt bˈɜːkənhˌɛd, tʃˈɛʃɚɹ ænd wʌz sˈeɪlɪŋ tə pˈoːɹtsməθ, hˈæmpʃɚ fɚɹə fˈɔːɹθkʌmɪŋ ɪnspˈɛkʃən ʌvðə flˈiːt baɪ ðə ʃˈɑː ʌv pˈɜːʒə.
Caledonia had been serving as a Coastguard vessel at Birkenhead, Cheshire and was sailing to Portsmouth, Hampshire for a forthcoming inspection of the fleet by the Shah of Persia.