SS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm

The Prince Friedrich Wilhelm was a passenger ship of the North German Lloyd ( NDL) in the North Atlantic Service 1908 until 1914.

After the war she was briefly in the service of the United States Navy to transport American troops from France back to the States. Then it was only chartered to the Canadian Pacific Steamships (CP) and then sold. There she received five new names ( Empress of China, Empress of India, Mont Laurier, Monteith and Montnairn ). Already in 1929 it was canceled.

In the service of the NDL

As the keel of the vessel was stretched, it should be baptized Washington. The Prince Friedrich Wilhelm ran on October 21, 1907 by stack. The built for the North Atlantic service at JC Tecklenborg Prince Friedrich Wilhelm had two chimneys, two masts and a service speed of 17 knots. She was the largest built at this yard for the NDL ship. On June 6, 1908 she left Bremerhaven on her maiden voyage across Southampton and Cherbourg to New York. On 13 June 1914 she started her last North Atlantic voyage. When the war started in August 1914 she was since July 18 on her first Polar cruise in the North Sea and sought Odda in Norway as a port of refuge on. In December 1916 she was transferred to Kiel. After the war she was extradited to Great Britain on 31 March 1919.

In service with the U.S. Navy

For a short time the Prince Friedrich Wilhelm was adopted as USS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm (ID -4063 ) of the United States Navy as a troop transport. From April to August 1919, she made ​​five round trips from France to the United States and transported over 15,000 passengers, mostly U.S. Army personnel. In November 1919 she was decommissioned and the U.S. Shipping Board provided.

In Canadian services

1920 Prince Frederick William was chartered by the Canadian Pacific (CP) and went from 14 July between Liverpool and Quebec. On May 13, 1921 Canadian Pacific bought the ship. It was overhauled in Glasgow and was now measured with 17,282 GRT.

Empress of China

On 2 August 1921 she was named Empress of China, but they did not go under that name. She was the second Empress of China society.

Empress of India

Therefore the former Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm was renamed after a few weeks in Empress of India. Even with this name she was the second namesake in the Canadian Pacific. As a ship of the Canadian Pacific Fleet, she was a Royal Mail Ship and led the designation RMS front of their name. On August 25, 1921, the Cunard Line chartered the Empress of India. She made two round trips between Southampton and New York. For the Canadian Pacific they started on June 23, 1922 their first of only two Liverpool - Quebec Tourism. On August 21, 1922, she began her single Southampton - Cherbourg- Quebec Travel.

Mont Laurier

Then the ship was again renamed in Mont Laurier and converted into a ship with only two classes: class cabin and III. Class. On 4 May 1923, she took on their service between Liverpool and Quebec. Due to boiler damage but they had to turn around and was able to continue the journey after repairs only on June 29. On January 24, 1925, she ran out for the last time from Liverpool to Saint John. On the return trip they had near Fastnet Rock off the south coast of Ireland significant problems with the controller. The error forced to start from Queenstown (now Cobh ) and entrainment to Liverpool. When she was still in for repair at Cammell Laird & Company, it was damaged on April 14, 1925 fire.

Monteith

On June 5, 1925 was the next renamed Monteith, but she never sailed under this name.

Montnairn

Already on July 2, 1925 was the next rename in Montnairn. Now she came back between Liverpool and Quebec to use. In July 1926, the passenger facility was re-organized into three classes: cabin -class, tourist- class, 3rd class accommodations. As of May 4, 1927 departures from Antwerp were made via Southampton to Quebec. Her last voyage began on September 16, 1928 in Hamburg to Southampton, Cherbourg and Quebec.

After the ship was launched in Southampton, which had carried out 62 round trips across the North Atlantic for the CP. On December 23, 1929, the Montnairn was sold to Genoa to abort.