Red Star Line Fleet List
Brochure Cover, Red Star Line Belgian Royal & United States Mail. Steamships Sailing Every Saturday Between New York and Antwerp, 1886. Created by Peter Wright & Sons, General Agents. GGA Image ID # 2050b6b14e
Fleet List of the Red Star Line Showing Ownership, Nationality, Name of Ship, Year Placed in Service, and Gross Tonnage. Gross tonnage equals cubic feet of all enclosed space divided by 100. Notations Regarding the Ship (if any), Such as Previous Name or Renaming, are shown after the Gross Tonnage.
RED STAR LINE
(Belgian)
Founded in 1871, the Red Star Line was a joint venture between the International Navigation Company of Philadelphia, which also ran the American Line, and the Société Anonyme de Navigation Belgo-Américaine of Antwerp, Belgium.
- Abbotsford (1871) 2,554
- Belgenland (1878) 3,692
- Belgenland (1917) 27,132
- Finland (1902) 12,188
- Friesland (1889) 6,409
- Gothland (1893) 7,669
- Kenilworth (1872) 2,595
- Kroonland (1902) 12,760
- Lapland (1908) 18,565
- Nederland (1873) 2,950
- Noordland (1804) 5,129
- Pennland (1870) 3,760
- Pennland (1922) 16,322
- Poland (1898) 8,282
- Rhynland (1879) 3,689
- Russland (1873) 2,595
- Samland (1903) 9,748
- Switzerland (1874) 2,957
- Vaderland (1873) 2,748
- Vaderland (1900) 11,899
- Wacsland (1867) 4,752
- Westernland (1884) 5,736
- Westernland (1918) 16,289
- Zeeland (1865) 2,866
- Zeeland (1901) 11,905
Belgenland (1878) Red Star Line
Built by Vickers, Sons & Maxim, Ltd., Barrow-in-Furness, England. Tonnage: 3,692. Dimensions: 403' x 40'. Propulsion: Single-screw, 14 knots. Compound engines. Masts and Funnels: Four masts and one funnel. Additional Features: Iron hull. Services: Placed in Antwerp-New York service in 1879. Ownership Transfer:Transferred to American Line in 1895, and used in their Liverpool-Philadelphia service. Renamed: Venere (1904) Italian. Sister ship: Rhynland.
Finland (1902) Red Star Line
Built by Wm. Cramp & Sons, Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Tonnage: 12,188. Dimensions: 560' X 60' (580' o.l.). Twin-screw, 16 knots. Triple expansion engines. Four masts and two funnels. Service : Antwerp-New York. Also served in American Line service. Passengers: 342 first-class, 194 second-class, and 626 third-class. Post-War Passengers: After refurbishment, she was outfitted for 242 first-class, 310 second-class, and 876 third-class passengers. Transferred to Panama-Pacific Line late in 1923. Fate: Scrapped in 1928 by Hughes Bolckow Shipbreaking Ltd at Blyth, Northumberland. She arrived for breaking on 28 April 1928. Sister ships: Kroonland, Vaderland and Zeeland. Note: In 1912, Finland was chartered by the American Olympic Committee to take the U.S. team to the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1925, Harold S. Vanderbilt devised the game of contract bridge while on board Finland.
SS Finland sailed for several subsidiary lines of International Mercantile Marine, including the Red Star Line, and also under charter for the White Star Line, the Panama Pacific Line, and the American Line.
Her routes primarily are from the port of New York to ports in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Italy.
Friesland (1889) Red Star Line
Built by J. & G. Thomson, Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland. Tonnage: 6,409. Dimensions: 437'x 51'(450'o.l.). Single-screw, 15 knots. Triple expansion engines. Four masts and one funnel. Passengers: 226 first, 102 second, 600 third. Launched: August 15, 1889. Service: Antwerp-New York. Ownership Transfer: Vessel was transferred to American Line in 1905. Renamed: La Plata (1910) Italian. Fate: This clipper bow liner built of steel was scrapped in 1912.
Kroonland (1902) Red Star Line
Built by Wm. Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Tonnage: 12,760. Dimensions: 560' X 60' (577' o.l.). Twin-screw, 15 knots. Triple expansion engines. Four masts and two funnels. Passengers (1902): 342 First, 194 Second, and 626 Third Class. Passengers (1919): 242 First, 310 Second, and 876 Third Class. Service: In various North Atlantic services, including the Antwerp-New York route. In 1925, The SS Kroonland was placed in New York – Panama Canal – San Francisco service until a landslide temporarily closed the canal to navigation. WW1 Service: During World War I, the ship served as United States Army transport USAT Kroonland through April 1918, and as the Navy auxiliary USS Kroonland (ID-1541) from April 1918 to October 1919. Post WW1 Service: Transferred to Panama-Pacific Line in 1923. Fate: The ship was sold and scrapped at Genoa in 1927. Sister ships: Finland, Vaderland and Zeeland. Awards: The SS Kroonland was one of ten ships that came to the aid of the burning liner SS Volturno in the mid-Atlantic in October 1913. Despite stormy seas, Kroonland was able to take aboard 89 survivors, for which captain and crew received accolades that included U.S. Congressional Gold Medals.
The SS Kroonland was the SS Finland's sister ship, built around 1902 by William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia.
She sailed for International Mercantile Marine's Red Star, American Line, and Panama Pacific Line. According to The New York Times, SS Kroonland became the first ship to issue a wireless distress call at sea when she radioed for help during a storm in 1903. When the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 disrupted service to Belgium, Kroonland shifted to alternate routes. After the United States entered World War I, the ship served in United States Army and the Navy. SS Kroonland made multiple trips between the U.S. and France, carrying nearly 38,000 troops for the U.S. Army and Navy. The liner resumed North Atlantic service in April 1920, remaining there until she was sold and scrapped at Genoa in 1927.
Lapland (1908) Red Star Line (Belgium)
Built by Harland & Wolff, Ltd., Belfast, Ireland. Tonnage: 18,565. Dimensions: 605' x 70'. Propulsion: Twin-screw, 18 knots. Quadruple expansion engines. Masts and Funnels: Four masts and two funnels. Launched: June 27, 1908. Passengers: 450 first, 400 second, 1,500 third. Maiden voyage: Antwerp-Dover-New York in April 1909. Note: In White Star Line during 1914-1919 period. Post WW1 Service: Resumed regular Antwerp-New York sailings in January 1920. Service Changes: Towards end of her career was used as a cruise ship. Fate: Broken up by Japanese shipbreakers in 1934.
Noordland (1884) Red Star Line
Built by Laird Bros., Ltd., Birkenhead, England. Tonnage: 5,129. Dimensions: 400'x 47'. Propulsion: Single-screw, 13 1/2 knots. 2,500 I.H.P. Compound engines. Masts and Funnels: Four masts and one funnel. Service: Antwerp-New York. Ownership Transfer: Transferred to American Line's Liverpool-Philadelphia service in 1901. Fate: Scrapped in 1908.
Pennland (1870) Red Star Line
Sailed as the SS Pennland from 1881-1903.
Built by J. & G. Thomson, Ltd., Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland. (This shipbuilding yard is now known as John Brown & Co., Ltd.). Tonnage: 3,760. Dimensions: 361' x 41'. Propulsion: Single-screw, 13 knots. Compound engines. Masts and Funnels: Three masts and one funnel. Additional Features: Iron hull. Service: Antwerp-New York. Ownership Transfer: Transferred to the Liverpool-Philadelphia service of the American Line in 1895. Fate: Scrapped at Genoa in 1903. Previously Named: Algeria (1870-1881).
Pennland (1922) Red Star Line
Built by Harland & Wolff, Ltd., Belfast, Ireland. Tonnage: 16,322. Dimensions: 575' x 67' (601' o.l.). Propulsion: Triple-screw, 16 knots. Triple expansion engines and one steam turbine. Masts and Funnels: Two masts and two funnels. Service: Antwerp-Southampton- New York. Sale of Ship: Liner was sold to Arnold Bernstein in 1935. Modifications: Converted to tourist class ship (538 passengers). Ownership Change: Resold to Holland-America Line about 1939. Fate: Bombed and sunk by German aircraft in the Gulf of Athens, April 25, 1941, while on way from Alexandria to Greece to evacuate British soldiers. Previous Name: Pittsburg (1925). Sister ship: Westernland.
Rhynland (1879) Red Star Line (Belgian)
Built by Vickers, Sons & Maxim, Ltd., Barrow-in-Furness, England. Tonnage: 3,689. Dimensions: 402'x 40'. Propulsion: Single screw, 12 1/2 knots. Compound engines. 1,600 I.H.P. Masts and Funnels: Four masts and one funnel. Additional Features: Iron hull. Service: Employed mainly in the Antwerp-New York service. Transfer of Ownership: Transferred to Liverpool-Philadelphia service of American Line in 1895. Renamed: Rhyna (1906). Italian owners. Fate: Scrapped in 1906. Sister ship: Belgenland.
Vaderland (1900) Red Star Line
Built by John Brown & Co., Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland. Tonnage: 11,899. Dimensions: 560' x 60' (580' o.l.). Twin- screw, 15 knots. Quadruple expansion engines. Four masts and two funnels. Launched: July 12,1900. Service: Antwerp-New York. Passengers: 340 first, 200 second, 600 third. Renamed: Southland (1915) British. WWI Service: Converted to troopship. Fate: Torpedoed and sunk 140 miles from Tory Island, June 4, 1917, with the loss of 4 lives. Sister ships: Finland, Kroonland and Zeeland.
Westernland (1884) Red Star line (Belgian)
Built by Laird Bros., Birkenhead, England. Tonnage: 5,736. Dimensions: 440' x 47'. Propulsion: Single-screw, 14 1/2 knots. Compound engines. Masts and Funnels: Four masts and two funnels. Steel hull. Note: One of the early steamships to be built of steel. She was built in a dry-dock. Service: Placed in Antwerp-New York service. Ownership Transfer: Transferred to the Liverpool-Philadelphia service of the American Line in 1901. Fate: Scrapped in 1912. Running mate: Noordland.
Westernland (1918) Red Star Line
The SS Westernland (1918) Sailed for the Red Star Line from 1930-1934
Built by Harland & Wolff, Ltd., Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. (Note: This shipbuilding yard formerly was known as London & Glasgow Engineering & Iron Shipbuilding Co.) Tonnage: 16,289. Dimensions: 575' x 67' (601' o.l.). Propulsion: Triple-screw, 16 knots. Triple expansion engines and one steam turbine. Masts and Funnels: Two masts and two funnels. Passengers: 350 cabin, 350 tourist, 800 third class. Sales: In the mid-thirties was sold to Arnold Bernstein. Resold to Holland-America Line in 1939. War Service: Took part in the attack on Dakar, as flagship of General de Gaulle. Vessel sold to British Government in January 1943. Fate: Scrapped in Belgium in 1947. Previously Named: Regina (1918-1929). Sister ship: Pennland.
Zeeland (1901) Red Star Line
Built by John Brown & Co., Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland. Tonnage: 11,905. Dimensions: 561' x 60' (580' o.l.). Propulsion: Twin-screw, 15 knots. Quadruple expansion engines. Masts and Funnels: Four masts and two funnels. Service: Antwerp-New York. Other Lines: During 1910-1911 period ran for White Star Line. Renamed: (a) Northland (1915), (b) Zeeland (1919), (c) Minnesota. Fate: Sold for scrap in October 1929. Sister ships: Finland, Kroonland and Vaderland.
Smith, Eugene W., Passenger Ships of the World: Past and Present, Boston: George H. Dean Company, 1963.
