Alexander Stephen and Sons in Govan, Glasgow built the ship as yard number 369.

She had a single screw, driven by a three-cylinder triple-expansion engine that was rated at 538 NHP[2] and gave her a speed of 10+1⁄2 to 12 knots (19 to 22 km/h).

[3][4] In March 1903 Pisa reported seeing a steamship sink on 16 February in a heavy sea at position 49°46′N 12°43′W / 49.767°N 12.717°W / 49.767; -12.717, 100 nautical miles (190 km) southwest of Fastnet.

Pisa sighted the ship several miles to port, apparently flying an international flag distress signal.

Pisa changed course to assist, and then at a distance of about 2 nautical miles (4 km) saw the steamship with her stern submerged and her bow in the air.

Pisa reached where the ship sank, and searched the area, but found neither survivors nor wreckage.

In 1904 Pisa made one round trip between Odesa and New York, via Istanbul, Smyrna (now İzmir), and Piraeus, starting on 5 January.

On her return voyage she grounded on 21 January in Lyme Bay in south West England.

On 14 April at position 42°06′N 49°43′E / 42.100°N 49.717°E / 42.100; 49.717 she sighted "extensive field ice, and... seven bergs of considerable sizes on both sides of track".

Meanwhile, some distance south and east of that position, RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank.

[3] In April 1914 HAPAG began a service between Odesa and New York via Batumi, Istanbul, Smyrna, and Piraeus.

The Collector of the Port of New York, Dudley Field Malone, sent United States Customs Service officers to keep her under close watch.

On 11 March SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich had arrived in Newport News, Virginia, low on coal and with her boilers needing to be serviced.

However, Malone doubted that Pisa would try to get past the torpedo boat destroyers at Hoffman Island quarantine station.

Like Prinz Eitel Friedrich, she was low on coal, and her crew was beginning to suffer malnutrition.

[17] In May 1915 Malone sent 70 customs inspectors and four Acting Deputy Surveyors aboard the revenue cutters USCGC Guide and Hudson to search all German and Austro-Hungarian ships in New York Harbor for explosives.

The US Government feared that were war to begin between the US and the Central Powers, the crews would try to sabotage their ships to try to make them useless to the US.

[19] On 6 April 1917 the USA declared war on Germany, and seized German ships in US ports.

On 30 June President Woodrow Wilson issued an executive order authorising the USSB to take possession and title of 87 German ships, including Pisa.

[21][22] On 25 or 26 August 1918 Ascutney left New York as an American Red Cross supply ship,[23] carrying 4,600 tons of food, pharmaceuticals, soap, and other supplies for US troops taking part in the North Russia intervention in the Russian Civil War.

[24][25][26] In Archangel she loaded cargo including 2,000 tons of flax, and three polar bear cubs.

In a gale on 6 March Ascutney and another USSB steamship, Costilla, dragged their anchors near Liberty Island and collided with each other.

All persons are hereby cautioned against harboring or trusting any of the personnel or crew, as no debts of their contracting will be paid unless they have our written approval, and no action can be started against the steamer for non-payment of bills in reference to work or supplies ordered by anyone other than Svend E. Faber, Master or ourselves.