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SS Belgenland by LYUDGA
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SSBelgenland was a transatlanticocean liner and cruise ship that was launched in Belfast, Ireland in 1914 and scrapped in Scotland in 1936. She was renamed Belgic in 1917, reverted to Belgenland in 1923, and renamed Columbia in 1935.



Throughout her career the ship was owned and operated by the International Mercantile Marine Company or its subsidiaries. IMM ordered Belgenland as a new flagship for its Belgian-based Red Star Line, but the First World War delayed her completion. Germany occupied Belgium in the First World War, so IMM had Belganland completed in 1917 as a cargo ship, transferred to the UK-based White Star Line and renamed Belgic. In 1918 she was converted into a troop ship.



In 1922 the ship was at last fitted out as a passenger liner. In 1923 she was transferred back to Red Star Line and her name was changed back toBelgenland. From 1924 onward she made her name making annual cruises around the World, leaving New York in November or December and returning in April the next year. She pioneered cruise ship visits to destinations includingBangkokandBali, and steamed almost 250,000 miles without defect.



In 1927 IMM transferredBelgenland's ownership to the UK-basedFrederick Leyland & Co, but kept Red Star Line as hermanagers. In 1935 IMM transferred her ownership to the US-basedAtlantic Transport Line, renamed herColumbia, and madePanama Pacific Lineher managers.



In 1930–31Belgenlandtook part in successful tests of a long-range ship-to-shoreradiotelephone. TheGreat Depressionled IMM to cease her cruises around the World from 1931 and reduce her transatlantic crossings. That year she made six-day cruises and one-day trips from New York. In 1932 she made short cruises and at least one transatlantic crossing. In 1933 she made a Caribbean cruise and at least one transatlantic crossing. In 1934 she made European cruises from England, and then was laid up.



AsColumbiain 1935 the ship ranCaribbeancruises: four in spring to theWest Indies, and then four in summer toPanamaandVenezuela. By autumn she was laid up again, and in 1936 she returned to Britain to be scrapped.



Belgenlandwas by far the largest ship Red Star Line ever owned. In her heyday she was the largest liner in transatlantic service betweenAntwerpand New York, and the largest liner to cruise around the World. AsColumbiashe was the largest ship thenregisteredin the US.



Harland & WolffbuiltBelgenland. She shared the same hybrid propulsion system as several other H&W liners of her era includingLaurenticandJusticia. However, she was a unique ship with nosister.She had a reputation forstabilityin the worst North Atlantic weather, and for reliability.



Belgenland had strong links with Belgium, although she was never registered there. Her more notable passengers included Eleanor Roosevelt in 1929, Douglas Fairbanks in 1931, and Albert Einstein in 1930 and 1933.