SS Stirling Castle

SS Stirling Castle was built by J.Elder & Co in Glasgow in 1882 and entered service with Thomas Skinner & Co., London in the tea trade from China. At 418.6 ft with a 50 ft beam, she grossed 4,826 tons and made 15 knots with a single screw when built.

In 1883, she was purchased by an Italian company, La Veloce and re-fitted with accommodation for passengers and renamed SS Nord America. She also kept the name SS Stirling Castle.

Her first voyage from Genoa to South America under Italian flag began on 13 November 1883. In 1884, she was named SS Nord America only.

She was chartered by the British government in 1885 to carry troops to Suakin, Sudan and in 1899 the Russian government chartered her to carry troops between Odessa and Vladivostok in connection with the Boxer Rebellion.

In 1900, she was refitted by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company and her engines were replaced, reducing her speed to only 13.5 knots.

Between May 5, 1901 and March 25, 1908, she made 58 round trips between Palermo, Naples and New York.

Beginning in 1909, she was used solely as a cargo steamer, and on December 5, 1910 carrying a cargo of horses from Buenos Aires with a cargo of horses, she ran aground off Morocco. She was re-floated and towed to Genoa, laid up and scrapped in 1911.