Belgenland

SS Belgenland

Triple Screw "Belgenland" by Charles Dixon

Triple Screw "Belgenland" -- Official Red Star Line Card

Built: 1914, Harland & Wolff, Belfast. Yard No: 391
Funnels: 3 Masts: 2
Tonnage: 27,132 GRT
Dimensions: 212.3 x 23.9 m / 697 x 78.9 ft
Engines: Triple Expansion plus low pressure turbine by builders
Triple Screw; 18,500 IHP; 17, max 18 kn.
Hull: Steel, 4 Decks, bridge and poop-574 ft. upper bridge-371 ft.
Passengers: 500-1st Class, 600-2nd Class, 1,500-3rd Class.
Crew: Not Listed.

The Belgenland was launched on December 31, 1914, but was then laid up incomplete. In 1917 the British government decided to have the ship completed as a cargo carrier. On June 21, 1914 she was delivered to the White Star Line, Liverpool as Belgic. She served on the Liverpool to New York service. Her tonnage at that time was listed as 24,547 GRT. The Belgic had 2 funnels and 3 masts, and since she was a cargo vessel only, she was built without passenger accommodation. In 1918 she was fitted out as a troop transport at New York, with accommodation for approximately 3,000 troops. In April 1921 the Belgic was laid up at Liverpool, as no shipyard had a berth free at which the vessel could be fitted out in accordance with the original plans for her completion as a passenger liner. Then in March 1922 she went to the Harland & Wolff yard at Belfast to be refitted out as a passenger ship and converted to oil-firing. On March 17, 1923 she was completed as Belgenland for the Red Star Line. Liverpool remained the ship's home port. On April 4, 1923 she made her maiden voyage as the Belgenland from Antwerp-Southampton-New York. She was often employed on cruising. On January 8, 1933 she was laid up at Antwerp, but then in July she made three Mediterranean cruises. Then in September she was laid up again, this time at London. In January 1935 she was sold to Atlantic Transport Co. and renamed Columbia. Her hull was painted white and her tonnage was now listed at 24,578 GRT. The Columbia was used in Panama Pacific Line's New York to California service, but was taken off as unprofitable after a few months. An attempt to use the Columbia for New York to West Indies cruises was also given up for the same reason after a short time. On April 22, 1936 the Columbia made her last voyage from New York to Bo'ness, where the ship arrived on May 4th to be broken up by P & W McLellan.