User:Pechristener/SS Main

SS Main

SS Main was an ocean liner of the Rhein class ocean liner of North German Lloyd in service on the route from Bremen to Baltimore from her 1900 launch until seized by the Allies of World War I in 1914. She was involved in the 1900 Hoboken Docks Fire. Unlike her sister ships Neckar and Rhein never entered service for the United States Navy.

History
SS Main was launched on 10 February 1900 by Blohm & Voss of Hamburg, Germany, for North German Lloyd. The ship was 152.70 m long between perpendiculars (158.50 m overall) was 58 ft abeam, and had a draft of 8.5 m. The ship's two quadruple-expansion steam engines turned her twin screw propellers that drove her at speeds of 14.5 knots. She had one funnel and four masts and could carry 139 first class passengers, 125 second class passengers and 2500 steerage passengers. Her maiden voyage was on 28 April starting from Bremerhaven to New York.

Only few month in revenue service she burned completely out in the 1900 Hoboken Docks Fire at 30 June 1900. Even the Main was furthest from the fire’s starting point, she was soon at fire. As she was unable to get loose from her moorings for more than seven hours, the damage was nearly beyond repair. Main was ultimately towed to Weehawken, New Jersey, where she was beached. Amazingly, 16 coal trimmers who had survived the fire hiding in a coal bunker then crawled out of the hulk. Two days after the fire began, the red-hot ship continued to smolder and smoke, which further delayed rescue and recovery efforts. At 27 July she was refloated and sent to Newport News for repair. At 15 October 1901 she reentered revenue service.

The last voyage of Main from Bremen to Baltimore was in June 1914, afterward she was seized by the Allied forces in Antwerpen, but in October returned to Germany. At 21 May 1919 she came to the British Shipping Controller where she was operated by Turner, Brightman & Co. At 30 June 1921 she was given to the French government and laid up. 1925 she was scraped.