Built in 1890 as Spree for Norddeutscher Lloyd of Bremen by the AG Vulcan shipyard of Stettin, Germany, she was 6,963 gross register tons (GRT) with a length of 463 ft (141 m) and a beam of 51.8 ft (15.8 m) and a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). She had two funnels, three masts, and a single screw, with accommodation for 244 first-class, 122 second-class and 460 third-class passengers. She made her maiden voyage leaving Bremen for New York on 11 October 1890. She would continue to ply this route for eight years.[1]
Whilst heading west across the Atlantic in November 1892, Spree's main propeller shaft broke and made a hole in the stern.[2] There was considerable panic amongst the passengers until it became clear that the ship's watertight compartments would keep it afloat. Two days later, the steamshipLake Huron was sighted and was able to tow Spree back to Ireland. There was only one casualty in the incident: a man who threw himself overboard and was drowned. The event was memorialized in a poem by William McGonagall.[3]
Colourised postcard view of the promenade deck of Kaiserin Maria Theresia
In 1899 she was completely rebuilt by AG Vulcan. She was lengthened to 526 ft (160 m), her tonnage increased to 7,840 GRT, new engines were fitted joined to twin screws to give a speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). The number of funnels was increased to three, though she was reduced to two masts. Her accommodation was altered to carry 405 first-class, 114 second-class and 387 third-class passengers, and she was renamed Kaiserin Maria Theresia (some sources say Theresa.)[4]
