SS Monroe was an Old Dominion Steamship Company steamship launched 18 October 1902 and completed 3 April 1903 by Newport News Shipbuilding of Norfolk, Virginia for operation in the company's Old Dominion Line's "Main Line Division" for overnight service between New York and Norfolk and could make 16 knots (30 km/h).

[13] The main salon was entered through sliding doors on the main deck with stairs leading to a social hall on the hurricane deck with a large oil painting of President Monroe above the builder's plate located on the landing all topped by a well with a skylight patterned with green wreaths and mauve ribbons on an opalescent background.

[13] A special stateroom, with a full sized brass bed and private bath with a white porcelain tub was off the base of the stairway opposite the purser's office.

A stairway from the social hall led to an observation room on the shade deck which had seating and a piano and exits aft to a promenade.

[13] The first class dining room, at the forward end of the hurricane deck housing and finished in white and gold, could seat 114 people.

[15] Steerage passengers had quarters for forty-two men and thirty-six women on the main deck aft with a wash room and toilet for each.

[17][note 2] Monroe, official number 93355, departed Virginia 6 April 1903 and arrived New York the next day on her maiden voyage.

[18] Monroe, Jefferson, Hamilton, Princess Anne and Jamestown for the overnight shuttle service in which one of the five ships sailed daily from both New York and Norfolk.

[22] Among the lost was Monroe's wireless operator, F. J. Kuehn of the Bronx, who stuck by his equipment and was seen giving his life jacket to a woman passenger.

[24] Nantucket was sold at a marshal's sale and bought by the president of Merchants and Miners Steamship Company for $85,000, the sum available to settle claims.