The ship was ordered by Hughes & Co for construction by Alexander Stephen and Sons at their yard in Glasgow, Scotland with the yard number 336. The ship was named after the river of the same name (Afon Alaw) in Anglesey. Afon Alaw was launched on 18 November 1891 and completed in December. The ship was registered in Liverpool. In 1904, the ship was sold to another company from Liverpool, Barque Cambrian Warrior Ltd, and again in 1911 to County Sg Co Ltd.
