SS Belgenland

Elizabeth Noord said on SS Belgenland at age 16 with her parents Berend and Kunje Noord and her 6 siblings. See Immigration page. Belgenland (or Belgic) was built by Barrow Shipbuilding Company at Barrow-in-Furness in 1878, she was an iron built vessel of 3692 gross tons and was launched on 24.12.1878. Her dimensions were length 402.9ft x beam 40.2ft, straight stem, one funnel, four masts, single screw and a speed of 14 knots. Accommodation was provided for 150-1st and 1,000-3rd class passengers. She also commenced her career under the Belgian flag and sailed on her first voyage from Antwerp to Philadelphia on 30/3/1879. After this first trip, she was transferred to the Antwerp - New York service where immigrants were charged $260 per person and unloaded on Ellis Island. At ellis they were rudly screened and tested. In 1895, Belgenland went to the American Line and commenced sailing on 31/7/1895 on the Philadelphia - Liverpool service and her accommodation altered to 150-2nd class and 1,000-3rd class passengers. She stayed on this run until changing back to Red Star Line's Antwerp - Philadelphia run in November 1903, being used for 3rd class passengers only. She made her last voyege on this service on 7/12/1904 and was sold in 1905 to an Italian company and renamed "Venere". She was finally scrapped in 1906. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Ted Finch - 16 August 1997] Many genealogists have confused Belgenland for Belgenland II,  built by Harland & wolff, Belfast in 1914, she was a 27,132 gross ton ship, length 67.4 ft x beam 78.4ft, three funnels, two masts, triple screw and a speed of 17 knots. She made voyages around the world and was similar to Titanic.