SS Zeeland (1901)

History
SS Zeeland

Name:	1901: SS Zeeland 1915: SS Northland 1920: SS Zeeland 1927: SS Minnesota
Owner:	International Mercantile Marine Co.
Operator:	1901: Red Star Line 1910: White Star Line 1911: Red Star Line 1914: White Star Line-Dominion 1915: International Navigation Co. 1916: White Star Line-Dominion 1919: American Line 1920: Atlantic Transport Line
Port of registry:	1901: United Kingdom 1912: Belgium 1914: United Kingdom
Route:	1901: Antwerp–Dover–New York 1910: Liverpool–Boston 1911: Antwerp–Dover–New York 1914: Liverpool–Quebec–Montreal 1915: Liverpool–Halifax–Portland 1917: Liverpool–Halifax 1919: Liverpool–Philadelphia 1920: Antwerp–Southampton–New York 1927: London–New York
Builder:	John Brown & Company Clydebank, Scotland
Launched:	24 November 1900
Maiden voyage:	Antwerp–New York, 13 April 1901
Fate:	Scrapped at Thos W Ward Inverkeithing, 1930
General characteristics H.M.T. Southland
Class and type:	Passenger Cargo Vessel
Tonnage:	11,905 GT
Length:	561.6 ft (171.2 m)
Beam:	60.2 ft (18.3 m)
Propulsion:	two quadruple-expansion steam engines twin screw propellers
Speed:	15 knots (28 km/h)
Capacity:	Passengers (as built): 342 first class 194 second class 626 third class
Crew:	121
Notes:	two funnels, four masts

SS Zeeland was a British and Belgian ocean liner of the International Mercantile Marine Co. (IMM). She was a sister ship to Vaderland and a near sister ship to Kroonland and Finland of the same company. Although her name was Dutch, it was changed during World War I to the less German-sounding SS Northland. She served for a time as a British troop ship under the name HMT Northland. Reverting to Zeeland after the war, the ship was renamed SS Minnesota late in her career. Zeeland sailed primarily for IMM's Red Star Line for most of her early career, but also sailed under charter for the White Star Line (later White Star-Dominion), the International Navigation Company, the American Line, and the Atlantic Transport Line, all IMM subsidiary lines.

In July 1899, the Red Star Line announced plans for the construction of four large steamers. Two ships, Vaderland and Zeeland at John Brown & Company of Clydebank in Scotland, and two others, Kroonland and Finland, were to be built at William Cramp and Sons in Philadelphia. After being launched on 24 November 1900, Zeeland made her maiden voyage from Antwerp to New York on 13 April 1901, sailing under the British flag.