[1] In 1919, Frankfurt was acquired by the White Star Line after she was surrendered to the United Kingdom in World War I.

In 1922, Frankfurt was then sold to the Oriental Navigation Company in British Hong Kong, where she was renamed Sarvistan.

C. Tecklenborg in Geestemunde (present-day Bremerhaven, Germany), and the second of her namesake to be launched for Norddeutscher Lloyd[5][a] on 17 December 1899.

Most of the ship's activity prior to the First World War was transporting mainly German and Austrian migrants to the United States.

[6] At the conclusion of the First World War, Frankfurt was surrendered to the United Kingdom and was acquired by the White Star Line in 1919.

[4] Under the orders of Captain Edward John Smith, Titanic's wireless operator, Jack Phillips, tried to reach out to Frankfurt to acknowledge his position.

At around 1:23 AM, Titanic's wireless transmitter lost power, hence debilitating her communication with Frankfurt and many other ships responding to her distress calls.

[11] Phillips, frustrated that the Frankfurt had seemed not to have known the situation the whole time after receiving Titanic's first distress call, answered: "You are a fool!