The Fleets
This page covers International Navigation Company/Red Star Line.
International Navigation Company of Philadelphia, was founded in 1871 and was better known as the Red Star Line. In 1872, a Belgian subsidiary was formed at Antwerp and named Societe Anonyme de Navigation Belge-Americaine. They maintained a weekly service beginning 19 January 1873 between Philadelphia and Antwerp.
The International Navigation Co (New Jersey) and the International Navigation Co Ltd (of Liverpool) were set up in 1893 to run the four surviving Inman Line ships, and in 1902 the INCo (New Jersey) changed its name to International Mercantile Marine Co. The International Navigation Co, Liverpool was taken over by Frederick Leyland & Co in 1927. There were many interchanges of ships between the various subsidiaries of IMM Co and between the US, Belgian and British flags, but for the purposes of this list, all ships are shown as owned by Red Star Line. The company operated until 1934 when, due to the economic depression they ceased trading.
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
Routes
- 1872-1902 Antwerp - Philadelphia
- 1876-1904 Antwerp - New York
- 1902-1904 Antwerp - Southampton - New York
- 1904-1914 Antwerp - Dover - New York
- 1920 (only) Hamburg - New York.
Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford | 1873 | 1874 chartered from Gourlay & Co. for 7 voyages. | 2,554 |
| Adria | 1896 | 1899 chartered from Hamburg America Line for 3 voyages (sailed under German flag). | 5,458 |
| Arabic | 1908 | 1926-1929 chartered from White Star Line. | 16,786 |
| Aragonia | 1897 | 1898-1900 chartered from Hamburg America Line for 15 voyages (sailed under German flag) | 5,446 |
| Belgenland (1) | 1879 | 1905 sold to Italy, renamed Venere. | 3,692 |
| Belgenland (2) | 1914 | 1917 completed as troopship Belgic for White Star Line, 1923 reverted to Red Star Belgenland, 1935 transferred to Panama Pacific Line, renamed Columbia. | 27,132 |
| Berlin | 1874 | 1895-1898 chartered from American Line for 7 voyages. | 5,525 |
| Cambroman | 1892 | 1907 chartered from Dominion Line for 4 voyages. | 6,059 |
| Colina | 1872 | 1874 chartered from Donaldson Line for 4 voyages. | 2,001 |
| Conemaugh | 1882 | ex-Sacrobosso, 1890 purchased after salvaged, 1897 transferred to New York - Seattle trade, 1904 went missing at sea. | 2,328 |
| Cybele | 1874 | 1874 chartered from Donaldson Line for 3 voyages. | 1,980 |
| Devonian | 1902 | 1927-1928 chartered from Leyland Line for 3 voyages. | 12,153 |
| Finland | 1902 | 1923 transferred to Panama Pacific Line. | 12,760 |
| Friesland | 1889 | 1911 sold to Italy, renamed La Plata. | 7,116 |
| Gothland | 1893 | ex-Gothic, 1908 purchased from White Star Line, renamed Gothland, 1911 transferred to White Star Line Australia service, renamed Gothic, 1913 reverted to Red Star Line Gothland, 1925 scrapped. | 7,755 |
| Haverford | 1901 | 1901-1902 chartered from American Line for 4 voyages. | 11,635 |
| Illinois | 1873 | 1886-1897 chartered from American Line. | 3,341 |
| Indiana | 1873 | 1889 chartered from American Line for 1 voyage. | 3,335 |
| Italia | 1889 | 1898-1899 chartered from Hamburg America Line for 2 voyages.(sailed under German flag) | 3,564 |
| Java | 1865 | 1878 purchased from Cunard Line, 1878 renamed Zeeland, 1889 sold to France renamed Electrique. | 2,866 |
| Kenilworth | 1872 | 1873 chartered from Gourlay & Co. for 6 voyages, 1876-1877 again chartered, 1877 purchased by Red Star, renamed Rusland, 1877 wrecked at Long Beach, NJ; no loss of life. | 2,595 |
| Kensington | 1893 | 1895-1903 chartered from American Line. | 8,669 |
| Kroonland | 1902 | 1923 sold to American Line, then sold to Panama Pacific. | 12,760 |
| Lapland | 1908 | 1933 sold Japan for scrapping. | 17,540 |
| Manitou | 1897 | 1905-1914 chartered from Atlantic Transport Line, 1921 purchased from ATL and renamed Poland. 1925 renamed Natale and scrapped | 6,849 |
| Marquette | 1897 | 1905-1914 chartered from Atlantic Transport Line. | 7,057 |
| Menominee | 1897 | 1905-1914 chartered from Atlantic Transport Line. | 6,919 |
| Merion | 1901 | 1907 chartered from American Line for 1 voyage. | 11,621 |
| Mesaba | 1897 | 1912-1913-1914 chartered from Atlantic Transport Line for 3 voyages. | 6,933 |
| Minnetonka | 1924 | 1932-1933 chartered from Atlantic Transport Line for 12 voyages. | 21,998 |
| Minnewaska | 1923 | 1932-1933 chartered from Atlantic Transport Line for 10 voyages. | 21,716 |
| Mississippi | see Samland. | ||
| Nederland | 1873 | 1906 scrapped in Italy. | 2,839 |
| Noordland | 1884 | 1908 scrapped. | 5,212 |
| Northland | see Zeeland (2) | ||
| Pennland (1) | 1870 | ex-Algeria 1882 purchased from Cunard Line, renamed Pennland, 1903 scrapped in Italy. | 3,428 |
| Pennland (2) | see Pittsburgh | ||
| Pennsylvania | 1873 | 1887-1897 chartered from American Line. | 3,343 |
| Pittsburgh | 1920 | 1925-1926 chartered from American Line, 1926 purchased from American Line renamed Pennland, 1935 sold to Bernstein Red Star Line, Hamburg. | 16,322 |
| Poland | see Manitou | ||
| Rhynland | 1879 | 1906 sold to Italy, renamed Rhyna and scrapped. | 3,689 |
| Rusland | see Kenilworth | ||
| Rydal Hall | 1871 | 1873 chartered from R. Alexander, Liverpool, for two voyages. | 2,114 |
| Samland | 1903 | ex-Mississippi, 1906 purchased from Atlantic Transport Line renamed Samland, 1911 transferred to White Star Line Australia service, renamed Belgic, 1913 reverted to Red Star Line as Samland, 1931 scrapped. | 7,913 |
| Scotia | 1890 | 1898 chartered from Hamburg America for 2 voyages (sailed under German flag). | 2,558 |
| Southland | see Vaderland (2) | ||
| Southwark | 1893 | 1895-1903 chartered from American Line. | 8,607 |
| State of Nevada | 1874 | 1875 chartered from State Line for 7 voyages. | 2,488 |
| Switzerland | 1874 | 1905 sold to Italy, renamed Sansone. | 2,816 |
| Vaderland (1) | 1872 | 1889 sold France, renamed Geographique. | 2,748 |
| Vaderland (2) | 1900 | 1915 renamed Southland, 1917 torpedoed and sunk off Irish coast; loss of 4 lives. | 11,899 |
| Waesland | 1867 | ex-Russia, 1880 purchased from Cunard Line, 1902 sunk in collision with Houston Line's s/s HARMONIDES off Anglesey; loss of 2 lives. | 4,752 |
| Westernland (1) | 1883 | 1912 scrapped. | 5,736 |
| Westernland (2) | 1917 | ex-Regina 1930 transferred from White Star Line, renamed Westernland, 1935 sold to Bernstein Red Star Line, Hamburg. | 16,314 |
| Winifredian | 1899 | 1927-1928 chartered from Leyland Line. | 10,405 |
| Zeeland (1) | see Java | ||
| Zeeland (2) | 1901 | 1915 renamed Northland, 1919 renamed Zeeland, 1927 sold to Atlantic Transport Line, renamed Minnesota. | 11,905 |