SS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm SS " Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm was an ocean liner for North German Lloyd ( NDL ) from her launch in 1907 until the end of World War I . After the war , she briefly served as USS " Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm " ( ID - 4063 ) for the United States Navy returning American troops from France . The vessel was first chartered — and later purchased outright — by Canadian Pacific Steamships ( CP ) and operated under the names Empress of China , Empress of India , Montlaurier , Monteith , and Montnairn " . She was scrapped in 1929 . History . The ship ' s keel was laid down to be the SS " Washington , " but she was renamed SS " Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm " before her launch . She was built in 1907 – 1908 for Norddeutscher Lloyd Line by J . C . Tecklenborg in Gestemunde , Germany . The 16 , 992 - ton vessel had a length of 590 . 1 feet , and her beam was 68 . 3 feet . She had two funnels , two masts , propellers and a service speed of 17 - knots . The ocean liner provided accommodation for 46 first - class passengers and for 338 second class passengers . There was also room for up to 1 , 726 third - class passengers . SS " Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm " . The SS " Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm " was launched on October 21 , 1907 . The ship left Bremen on June 6 , 1908 on her maiden voyage , stopping at Southampton , Cherbourg and New York . She was one of several ships in the vicinity of the " Titanic " when the latter ship sank . Her last voyage as " Prinz Frederick Wilhelm " was begun on June 13 , 1914 . At the outbreak of war in August 1914 , she cut short a pleasure cruise and sought refuge at Odda , Norway . After the war , the ship was surrendered on March 31 , 1919 to the British . For a short period , she was commissioned in the US Navy as a troop transport . From April into August Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm made five trips from France and the U . S . , carrying over 15 , 000 passengers , mainly U . S . Army personnel . She was decommissioned in November 1919 and transferred to the U . S . Shipping Board . In 1920 , she was chartered to Canadian Pacific ; and she sailed between Liverpool and Quebec beginning on July 14 , 1920 . On May 13 , 1921 , the vessel was bought outright by Canadian Pacific . She was then reconditioned at Glasgow , and rebuilt to 17 , 282 - tons . On August 2 , 1921 she was renamed the SS " Empress of China " , but she never sailed with that name . This ship became the second of three CP vessels to be named " Empress of China " . Within weeks , the vessel would be renamed yet again as the SS " Empress of India , " becoming the second of two CP vessels to be named " Empress of India . " . CP " Empresses of China " and " Empresses of India " . In 1921 , Canadian Pacific added two German - built vessels to the " Empress " fleet ; and initially , both were confusingly renamed " Empress of China . " A quick explanation will help distinguish these the quite different ships which each sailed with the same name . In other words , this vessel from Gestemunde was the second of three ships named " Empress of China " and she was also the second of two ships named " Empress of India " . SS " Empress of India " . On August 25 , 1921 , the SS " Empress of India " was chartered to Cunard . She completed two round - trip voyages between Southampton and New York . Then Cunard returned her to Canadian Pacific . On June 23 , 1922 , she set out on what would be the first of only two Liverpool - Quebec voyages . On August 21 , 1922 , the " Empress " set out for what would become her sole opportunity to sail the Southampton - Cherbourg - Quebec route . SS " Montlaurier " . The ship was renamed once more — this time as the SS " Montlaurier . " She was rebuilt to carry cabin - class and 3rd - class passengers . On May 4 , 1923 , she sailed from Liverpool for Quebec ; but she was forced to return to England because of boiler trouble . After repairs were completed , she left port again on June 29 , 1923 . Her last voyage from Liverpool to Saint John , New Brunswick began on January 24 , 1925 . What was expected to have been a return voyage was cut short in February when she encountered steering gear trouble near Fastnet Rock off the southern coast of Ireland . The mechanical malfunction forced the ship to return to Queenstown ( now known as Cobh ) . She was then towed to Liverpool . On April 14 , 1925 , she was damaged by fire as she lay in port under repair by Cammell , Laird & Co . , but the fire - damage was not so extensive that she couldn ' t be restored . SS " Monteith " . On June 5 , 1925 , the ship was renamed the SS " Monteith " , but she never sailed under this name . SS " Montnairn " . On July 2 , 1925 , the ship was again renamed — this time as the SS " Montnairn " . She sailed for the next few months between Liverpool and Quebec . In July 1926 , she was converted to cabin - class , tourist - class and 3rd - class accommodations . On May 4 , 1927 , she began sailing the Antwerp - Southampton - Quebec route . On 16 / 9 / 1928 she commenced her final sailing from Hamburg to Southampton , Cherbourg and Quebec . This ship was laid up at Southampton , having successfully completed 62 round - trip North Atlantic voyages as a CP - flagged ocean liner . On December 23 , 1929 , SS " Montnairn " was sold for the last time , and the vessel was scrapped at Genoa .