SS Lapland

SS Lapland
History
Belgium
Name	Lapland
Namesake	Lapland
Owner	Red Star Line
Operator	Red Star Line
Port of registry	Antwerp, Belgium
Builder	Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Yard number	393
Launched	27 June 1908
Completed	27 March 1909
Maiden voyage	10 April 1909
Out of service	1933
Fate	Scrapped at Osaka, Japan, 1934
Notes	Hit mine, April 1917
General characteristics
Tonnage	17,540 GRT
Length	606 ft 11 in (184.99 m)
Beam	70 ft 2 in (21.39 m)
Propulsion	Twin screw
Sail plan	4 masts
Speed	17 knots
Capacity	1,500 passengers
Notes	Twin funnel, iron hull

SS Lapland was a passenger ship built by the Harland & Wolff for the Red Star Line and launched on 27 June 1908. Lapland looked similar to her sister ships Samland, Gothland and Poland, but was substantially larger.

Crossings

On 10 April 1909, Lapland began her maiden voyage sailing from Antwerp, Belgium, to Dover, England, and New York City under the Belgian flag. She started her last voyage on this service on 7 April 1914 and on 9 January 1914 began sailing between Liverpool, England, and New York.

In April 1912, she was hired by the White Star Line to carry back the surviving members of Titanic's crew to England after they had been detained in the United States for investigations. Lapland arrived in England on 28 April, 13 days after Titanic sank.

World War I

On 29 October 1914, Lapland began the Liverpool-New York City crossings under the British flag while under charter to Cunard Line. In April 1917 she was mined off the Mersey Bar Lightship, but managed to reach Liverpool and in June 1917 she was requisitioned and converted to a troopship. Among her passengers in August 1917 were the aviators of the 1st Aero Squadron, the first unit of the United States Army Air Service to reach France.

Post-war

The honeymooning actors Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford on board the SS Lapland in June 1920

On 24 November 1918, she began her first voyage after the Armistice when she sailed from Liverpool for New York for the White Star Line and on 2 August 1919 started her sixth and last round voyage on this service. On 16 September 1919, she transferred to the Southampton, England - New York crossing under charter to White Star Line and made three round voyages on this route, the last starting 27 November 1919.

Lapland was refitted to 18,565 gross tons with passenger accommodation for 389-1st, 448-2nd and 1,200-3rd class and resumed service for the Red Star Line, but under the British flag, on 3 January 1920 when she sailed from Antwerp for Southampton and New York. In April 1927 she was altered to carry cabin, tourist and 3rd class passengers and on 29 April 1932 started her last voyage between Antwerp, Southampton, Havre, New York. Between 1932-1933 she was used on London-Mediterranean cruises. In October 1933 was sold to Japanese owners and scrapped at Osaka, Japan the following year."

References

• North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.2, p. 850
• Andr, Kint, Robert Vervoort, De Red Star Line, Antwerpens Vergane Glorie, p. 98/99
• https://bob.plord.net/Ships/MS-2/Belgium/Lapland.html