SS Stirling Castle was built by J.Elder & Co in Glasgow in 1882 and entered service with Thomas Skinner & Co., London in the tea trade from China.

She held a long-standing record from the Tungshu Lightship to London with a time of 27 days and 4 hours.

178 Her new owner was an Italian company, La Veloce and she was re-fitted with accommodation for passengers and renamed SS Nord America.

In 1900, she was refitted by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company and her engines were replaced, reducing her speed to only 13.5 knots.

Beginning in 1909, she was used solely as a cargo steamer, and on 5 December 1910 carrying a shipment of horses from Buenos Aires, she ran aground off Morocco.