Before the First World War, Canadian Pacific ordered a pair of liners from Barclay, Curle & Co on the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland.

[7] The Metagama played a significant role in the 20th century migration of people from the Outer Hebrides to Canada.

The first was on 26 May 1923, when she collided with Hogarth Line's cargo steamship Baron Vernon in the River Clyde.

[9] In June 1924 Metagama was westbound to Montreal when the Italian steamship Clara Camus collided with her about seven miles off Cape Race, Newfoundland.

Clara Camus' bow made a hole 15 by 3 feet (5 by 1 m) in the Matagama's port side.

Metagama launched a lifeboat crewed by three crewmen to inspect the damage, but in the fog the boat drifted away from the ship and disappeared.

The United States Coast Guard Cutter Tampa later found the boat, but its three occupants were missing.