SS Giulio Cesare was a liner of the Navigazione Generale Italiana, which was later operated by the Italian Line.

The ship was used on Genoa-Naples-South America voyages but also served North American ports.

In November 1933, she was reconditioned and made ready to serve on the Mediterranean-South Africa Service.

This collision was deemed to be the fault of the German steamship and the captain and crew were detained along with the ship.

In 1942, during the Second World War, SS Giulio Cesare was chartered to the International Red Cross for a time before being laid-up in the port of Trieste.