She was in service on the route from Bremen to Baltimore from her 1900 launch until seized by the Allies of World War I in 1914, and was involved in the 1900 Hoboken Docks fire.

SS Main was launched on 10 February 1900 by Blohm & Voss of Hamburg, Germany, for North German Lloyd.

The ship's two quadruple-expansion steam engines turned her twin screw propellers that drove her at speeds of 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h).

[2] Two days after the fire began, the red-hot ship continued to smolder and smoke, which further delayed rescue and recovery efforts.

Following the war, on 21 May 1919 she was awarded to the British Shipping Controller, where she was operated by Turner, Brightman & Co. On 30 June 1921 she was turned over to the French government and laid up.