Belgenland (1878)

Belgenland rigged as a schooner and dressed overall
History
Name	1878: Belgenland 1905: Venere
Namesake	1878: Belgium 1905: Venus
Owner	1879: SA de Nav Belgo-Américaine 1903: Int'l Mercantile Marine Co 1904: SA de Nav Belgo-Américaine 1905: L Donegani
Operator	1879: Red Star Line 1895: American Line 1903: Red Star Line
Port of registry	1879: Antwerp 1903: Liverpool 1904: Antwerp 1905: Livorno
Route	1879: Antwerp – Philadelphia 1895: Liverpool – Philadelphia 1903: Antwerp – Philadelphia
Builder	Barrow Shipbuilding Co, Barrow
Yard number	59
Launched	24 December 1878
Completed	1879
Maiden voyage	20 May 1879
Identification	UK official number 115353 UK code letters TSRF
Fate	Scrapped 1905
General characteristics
Type	Ocean liner
Tonnage	1881: 3,453 GRT, 2,364 NRT 1896: 3,873 GRT, 2,678 NRT 1904: 3,682 GRT, 2,603 NRT
Length	402.9 ft (122.8 m)
Beam	40.2 ft (12.3 m)
Depth	30.6 ft (9.3 m)
Decks	3
Installed power	1881: 600 HP 1896: 444 NHP
Propulsion	compound steam engine
Capacity	1895: 150 2nd class and 1,000 third class passengers
Notes	iron hull, 4 masts

Belgenland was an iron-hulled sail-steamer that was launched in England in 1878 and spent most of her career as a Belgian transatlantic ocean liner. She was renamed Venere in 1904 and scrapped in Italy in 1905.

Barrow Shipbuilding Co built Belgenland in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire as yard number 59. She was launched on 24 December 1878 and completed in 1879.^[1] Her registered length was 402.9 ft (122.8 m), her beam was 40.2 ft (12.3 m) and her depth was 30.6 ft (9.3 m). As built, her tonnages were 3,453 GRT and 2,364 NRT.^[2]

Belgenland had four masts. At different times she was rigged as a jackass-barque^[3] and a schooner. She also had a two-cylinder compound steam engine, which was rated at 444 NHP.^[4] She had a single funnel.

The ship was built for Société Anonyme de Navigation Belgo-Américaine, who registered her in Antwerp and appointed Red Star Line to manage her.

On 30 March 1879 Belgenland left Antwerp on her maiden voyage to Philadelphia. Her last voyage on this route was on 6 July 1895.^[5]

In 1895 American Line chartered Belgenland, and had her reclassified to carry 150 second-class and 1,000 third-class passengers.^[5] Her tonnages were revised to 3,873 GRT and 2,678 NRT. On 31 July 1895 she began her first voyage on her new route, which was between Philadelphia and Liverpool. She began her last voyage on this route on 17 October 1903.^[5]

In 1903 American Line returned Belgenland to her owners, who changed her port of registration to Liverpool. She was given the UK official number 115353 and code letters TSRF.^[6] She was reclassified for third class passengers only, and Red Star Line put her back on the route between Antwerp and Philadelphia.^[5]

In 1904 Belgenland's port of registration was changed back to Antwerp. She began her last voyage between Antwerp and Philadelphia on 7 December 1904.^[5]

L Donegani, an Italian shipowner, bought Belgenland, renamed her Venere, and registered her in Livorno.^[7] Her tonnages were revised to 3,682 GRT and 2,603 NRT. She was scrapped in September 1905^[8] in Genoa.^[1]

• Bonsor, NRP (1975). North Atlantic Seaway. Vol. 2. Jersey: Brookside Publications. p. 850. ISBN 978-0905824017.
• Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1881 – via Internet Archive.
• Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping. Vol. I–Steamers. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1896 – via Internet Archive.
• "Supplement". Lloyd's Register of Shipping. Vol. I–Steamers. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1904 – via Internet Archive.
• Lloyd's Register of Shipping. Vol. I–Steamers. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1905 – via Internet Archive.
• Mercantile Navy List. 1904 – via Crew List Index Project.