SS Batavier II (1897)

SS Batavier II, as she appeared from 1897 to 1909
History
Name	SS Batavier II
Owner	William Müller & Co.[1]
Operator	Batavier Line[1]
Port of registry	Rotterdam[2]
Route	Rotterdam–London[1]
Builder	Gourlay Brothers, Dundee, Scotland[2]
Yard number	176[2]
Launched	17 August 1897[2]
Completed	October 1897[2]
Captured	seized as prize by UB-6, 24 September 1916[1]
Fate	Shelled and sunk by HMS E55, 27 July 1917[3]
General characteristics
Type	steam packet
Tonnage	as built: 1,136 GRT[2] after 1909: 1,335 GRT
Length	as built: 74.4 m (244 ft 1 in) (lpp)[2] after 1909: 79.7 m (261 ft 6 in)
Beam	10.2 m (33 ft 6 in)[2]
Propulsion	1 × 4-cylinder, triple-expansion steam engine,[2] 2,000 ihp (1,500 kW)
Speed	13 to 14 knots (24–26 km/h)[1][2]
Capacity	passengers:[1] 44 first class 27 second-class 250 steerage

SS Batavier II was a steam packet for the Batavier Line that sailed between Rotterdam and London for most of her career. The ship was built in 1897 by the Gourlay Brothers of Dundee. The Dutch ship could carry a limited amount of freight and up to 321 passengers. She was rebuilt in 1909 which increased her length by over 5 metres (16 ft).

During World War I, the Batavier Line attempted to maintain service, but in September 1916, Batavier II was seized as a prize by German submarine UB-6 and sailed into Zeebrugge and retained. Ten months later, Batavier II was shelled by British submarine E55 and sank near Texel.