The S/S Gothic was built in 1893 by Harland & Wolff Ltd. in Belfast. She had a tonnage of 7,755 tons gross, 6,644 under deck and 4,975 net. Poop 58 feet long and Forecastle 61 feet. She had one funnel, 4 masts, 3 decks, was fitted with electric light and refrigerating machinery. Water ballast. She had twin screws, and triple expansion engines with 6 cylinders of 26, 42 1/2 & 70 inches diameter each pair and stroke 51 inches The engines delivered 700 nominal horsepower which gave the ship a speed of 14 knots. Engines was built by Harland & Wolff. She was Launched on 28th Jun.1893, for the White Star Line's New Zealand service. There was accommodation for 104-1st and 114-3rd class passengers. She sailed on her maiden voyage from London to Capetown and Wellington on 28th Dec.1893. In June 1906, she was damaged when her wool cargo caught fire and was beached and flooded at Plymouth. Converted to an emigrant carrier with third class accommodation for 1,800 passengers, all in four berth cabins, she was purchased by the Red Star Line, registered under the Belgian flag and renamed "Gothland" in 1908. She commenced her first Antwerp - New York voyage on 11th Jul.1908, made a single round voyage between Hamburg, Antwerp, Quebec and Montreal on 6th May 1911 and started her last Antwerp - New York sailing on 24th Jun.1911. Between 1911-1913 she resumed the name of "Gothic" and sailed on the UK - Australia/New Zealand service for the White Star Line. She went back to the name "Gothland" and returned to the Antwerp - New York route for Red Star Line on 23rd Apr.1913. On 23rd Jun.1914 she stranded on the Gunnar Rocks, Scilly Isles, was towed off after three days and was repaired at Southampton. On the 20th Apr.1916 she commenced the first of three or more voyages between New York, Falmouth and Rotterdam for the Belgian Relief Commission and returned to Antwerp - New York voyages with cargo only on 6th May 1919. She resumed passenger voyages on 7th Aug.1920 and commenced her last voyage between Antwerp and Philadelphia in March 1925. Sold in Nov.1925 and scrapped at Bo'ness the following year. Call sign: NFVB. Official registration #: 102119

[North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.2,p.858 - subm. Ted Finch][1905-06 Lloyd's Registry of shipping, subm. Gilbert Provost]