SS Belgic (1873)

History
Name
  • Belgic (1873–1883)
  • Goefredo (1883–1884)
Owner
Operator
  • White Star Line (1873–1875)
  • Occidental and Oriental Steamship Company (1875–1883)
  • Cia de Nav. 'La Flecha' (1883–1884)
Port of registryLiverpool
BuilderHarland & Wolff, Belfast
Yard number81
Launched14 January 1873
Completed29 March 1873
Maiden voyage29 March 1873
In service29 March 1873
Out of service26 February 1884
FateWrecked on 26 February 1884
NotesFirst of four "Belgic"s for the White Star Line.
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage2,652 GRT
Length370 feet (112.78 m)
Beam36 feet 4 inches (11.07 m)
PropulsionSingle screw
Speed12 knots (22 km/h)
Capacity40 first-class passengers

SS Belgic was a steamship of the White Star Line. The first of the company's four ships bearing this name, she was first assigned along with her sister ship the Gaelic on the route to France and South America, a new route of the company. This service was short-lived, however, and at the end of the year, the Belgic was the last White Star Line steamer to serve on this route. She was then moved to the North Atlantic route.

The following year, she and her sister ship were considered surplus, and so were loaned to the fledgling Occidental and Oriental Steamship Company, which chartered them on the Pacific route. This agreement continued for eight years, before the two ships were withdrawn from service in 1883 and sold to the Spanish company Cia de Nav. La Flecha. Renamed Goefredo, the ship would go on to have a career that was ultimately short-lived. She experienced two successive groundings, the second in February 1884 proving fatal to the ship.