SS Drottningholm
Encyclopedia
RMS Virginian was a steam turbine
powered transatlantic ocean liner
, launched in 1904 for the Allan Line. She operated from 1920 to 1948 for the Swedish American Line
as SS Drottningholm.
Built in 1905 by Alexander Stephen and Sons
in Glasgow
for the Allan Line of Canada
. Commissioned as SS Virginian, she served the Allan Line, as a sistership to from 1905 until 1920. In 1912, she was one of several ships in wireless radio communication with , giving iceberg warnings, and at one point erroneous wireless messages had Virginian towing Titanic to Halifax
, Nova Scotia
. During World War I
she served as a troop transport ship for Canada.
In 1920, she was sold to the Swedish American Line
and renamed SS Drottningholm, serving Sweden until 1948.
From 1948-1955 she sailed for the Home Lines
of Italy
, first as SS Brasil and from 1951 as SS Homeland.
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
powered transatlantic ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
, launched in 1904 for the Allan Line. She operated from 1920 to 1948 for the Swedish American Line
Swedish American Line
Swedish American Line was a passenger and cargo shipping line. It was founded in December 1914 under the name Rederiaktiebolaget Sverige-Nordamerika, beginning ocean liner service from Gothenburg to New York in 1915...
as SS Drottningholm.
Career
Alexander Stephen and Sons
Alexander Stephen and Sons Limited, often referred to simply as Alex Stephens or just Stephens, was a Scottish shipbuilding company based in Linthouse, Govan in Glasgow, on the River Clyde.-History:...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
for the Allan Line of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Commissioned as SS Virginian, she served the Allan Line, as a sistership to from 1905 until 1920. In 1912, she was one of several ships in wireless radio communication with , giving iceberg warnings, and at one point erroneous wireless messages had Virginian towing Titanic to Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
she served as a troop transport ship for Canada.
In 1920, she was sold to the Swedish American Line
Swedish American Line
Swedish American Line was a passenger and cargo shipping line. It was founded in December 1914 under the name Rederiaktiebolaget Sverige-Nordamerika, beginning ocean liner service from Gothenburg to New York in 1915...
and renamed SS Drottningholm, serving Sweden until 1948.
From 1948-1955 she sailed for the Home Lines
Home Lines
Home Lines was an Italian passenger shipping company that operated both ocean liners and cruise ships. The company was founded in 1946, and it ceased operations in 1988 when merged into Holland America Line. Although based in Genoa, Homes Lines was an international company with ships registered in...
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, first as SS Brasil and from 1951 as SS Homeland.