SS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm was an ocean liner for North German Lloyd (NDL) from her launch in 1907 until the end of World War I.

After the war, she briefly served as USS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm (ID-4063) for the United States Navy returning American troops from France.

The ship left Bremen on June 6, 1908 on her maiden voyage, stopping at Southampton, Cherbourg and New York City.

At the outbreak of war in August 1914, she cut short a pleasure cruise and sought refuge at Odda, Norway.

From April into August Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm made five trips from France and the U.S., carrying over 15,000 passengers, mainly U.S. Army personnel.

[5] In 1920, she was chartered to Canadian Pacific; and she sailed between Liverpool and Quebec beginning on July 14, 1920.

On August 21, 1922, the Empress set out for what would become her sole opportunity to sail the Southampton-Cherbourg-Quebec route.

What was expected to have been a return voyage was cut short in February when she encountered steering gear trouble near Fastnet Rock off the southern coast of Ireland.

On April 14, 1925, she was damaged by fire as she lay in port under repair by Cammell, Laird & Co., but the fire-damage was not so extensive that she couldn't be restored.

[2] This ship was laid up at Southampton, having successfully completed 62 round-trip North Atlantic voyages as a CP-flagged ocean liner.