She had a triple expansion steam engine driving a single screw propeller.

On 7 December 1916, SS Keltier was torpedoed by UB-29 in the Atlantic Ocean, 40 nautical miles (74 km) west of the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom.

She was badly damaged but remained afloat long enough to reach safe waters.

She was then towed to Falmouth, Cornwall, where she was beached at the East side of the harbour entrance.

Keltier left Milford Haven on 29 September 1918 for New York in ballast in a convoy.