As built, the ship was long (between perpendiculars) and abeam, a mean draft of . Gjøa was assessed at 3,645 GRT, and 6,200 DWT. The vessel had a steel hull, and a single 307 nhp triple-expansion steam engine, with cylinders of , , and diameter with a stroke, that drove a single screw propeller, and moved the ship at up to .
