William Hamilton and Company built the ship in Port Glasgow on the River Clyde, launching her on 4 February 1909.

[2] She had a single screw, driven by three-cylinder triple-expansion steam engine that was rated at 414 NHP[2] and gave her a speed of 11 knots (20 km/h).

[6] On 25 April 1918, the United States Shipping Board transferred Craster Hall to the US Navy.

[7] Between 25 May 1918 and 7 January 1919 Craster Hall made three voyages from the US to France with the Naval Overseas Transportation Service.

On 27 June 1927 Craster Hall was involved in a collision with Imperial Oil's motor tanker Reginolite off the coast of Peru, and was beached at Talara Point.