SS ''Bovic'' was a

steamship A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam-powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships ...

built by Harland and Wolff in

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

for the

White Star Line The White Star Line was a British shipping company. Founded out of the remains of a defunct packet company, it gradually rose up to become one of the most prominent shipping lines in the world, providing passenger and cargo services between t ...

History

A sister ship to the , the ship was launched on 28 June 1892, completed on 22 August 1892 and began her maiden voyage on 26 August 1892, sailing from Liverpool to New York City. The ship was intended for the Atlantic cattle trade and able to carry about 1,050 cattle on the upper main deck and had special accommodation for horses amidships. Designed to carry livestock with a small number of passengers, she was later converted into a passenger ship. In February 1914, all four of her masts were cut down to the height of her funnels so she could pass under the Manchester canal bridges. On 19 August 1915, while off the coast of southern Ireland, she narrowly avoided destruction by what is believed to be the German

U-boat U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role ...

, which had sunk four other vessels, including White Star Line's in the same area that day. ''Bovic'' was pursued by the submarine, but managed to escape. In April 1917 she was requisitioned for war service. She resumed White Star Line service between 1919, before going back to the Manchester Joint Service in 1921. In January 1922 she was sold to the

Leyland Line The Leyland Line was a British shipping transport line founded in 1873 by Frederick Richards Leyland after his apprenticeship in the firm of John Bibby, Sons & Co. After Frederick Leyland's death, the company was taken over by Sir John Ellerma ...

and renamed ''Colonian'', and her masts were back to their normal height. She was scrapped at

Rotterdam Rotterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Rotte'') is the second largest city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is in the province of South Holland, part of the North Sea mouth of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, via the ''"N ...

in 1928.

References

1892 ships Ships built in Belfast Steamships Victorian-era passenger ships of the United Kingdom Ships of the White Star Line Ships built by Harland and Wolff {{ship-stub