Spaarndam

The "Spaarndam" of the Holland America Line was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast (engines by J.Jack & Co, Liverpool) in 1881 as the "Asiatic" for the White Star Line, she was a 4,368 gross ton ship, length 427.8ft x beam 41.9ft, one funnel, four masts (rigged for sail), single screw and a speed of 13 knots. Launched on 30/4/1881, her name was changed to "Arabic" and she left Liverpool on her maiden voyage to New York on 10/9/1881. She started her third and last voyage on this service on 2/12/1881. She was then chartered to the Occidental & Oriental Line and sailed on 4/2/1882 from Liverpool for Suez Canal, Hong Kong and San Francisco. On 30/3/1887 she returned to the N.Atlantic and sailed from London for Queenstown and New York and on 12/5/1887 resumed Liverpool - New York sailings. She reverted to San Francisco - Yokohama - Hong Kong voyages in 1888 and in 1890 was sold to Holland America Line. Renamed "Spaarndam", she started her first Rotterdam - New York voyage on 29/3/1890. In 1899 she was refitted to carry 2nd and 3rd class passengers only and commenced her final voyage on 7/2/1901 when she left Rotterdam for New York. She was scrapped at Preston the same year.North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P. Bonsor, vol.2, p.758; vol.3, p.912] -

Citation: [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 13 July 1998]