Built as a passenger-cargo vessel under yard No 800 by Cammell, Laird & Co, Birkenhead for the National Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, Andros, Greece.
09 June 1914 launched as the VASILEFS CONSTATINOS named after the at that time King of Greece
Tonnage 9,272 gross, dim. 470 x 58.1 x 35.6ft., draught 24.2ft.
Powered by two 8-cyl.quadruple expansion steam engines built by the shipbuilder, 1,759 nhp, twin shafts, speed 18 knots.
Accommodation for 60 first, 450 second and 1800 third class passengers.
December 1914 completed.
She was designed mostly for the emigration trade between the Mediterranean and New York.
For the believers there was a Greek Orthodox Church on the shelterdeck.
13 May 1915 she sailed for her maiden voyage from Piraeus via Patras and Naples to New York.
She made 12 roundtrips her last sailing to New York from Piraeus was on 09 September 1916.
What she was doing during World War I is hazy but it looks that she for a long time was laid up.
1917 Was she required by the French Government and for about two years operated under the French flag.
1919 Renamed in MEGALI HELLAS the Greek King was pro Germany, and after the war the name VASILEFS CONSTANTINOS was not more so popular.
Again in the passenger trade between the Mediterranean to New York, and her first port of departure was now Constantinople (Istanbul)
12 January 1923 she made her last sailing from Constantinople via Piraeus, Patras, Marseille to New York.
When the USA Government put restrictions in place in 1923 of the total Greek emigrants allowed to enter the USA, there was not more employ for the MEGALI HELLAS in the New York emigrant service.
During 1923 transferred to the British Byron SS Co. Ltd., London a subsidiary of Mr. Embiricos the owner of the Greek National Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.
Renamed in BYRON and registered under British flag.
Bryon SS Co. Ltd. was founded in 1915 by the Greek Line to buy ex German cargo vessel and liners during World War I and even after that war many vessel were bought.
Byron was kept in the service of the Greek Line from Constantinople to New York; her first sailing under British flag was on 04 August 1923.
1928 Again under Greek flag and owned by the National Steam Navigation Co. Ltd at Andros, Greece.
22 August 1928 she left for New York under Greek flag.
December 1934 laid up, April 1935 again in service.
24 October 1935 she sailed for the last time from New York and via Boston and the Azores and Lisbon to Piraeus.
1935 The National Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, went bankrupt, after the Greek Government withdrawn the subsidy of $100.000 per annum.
After arrival in Piraeus laid up.
22 February 1937 sold for £29,000 in Piraeus to Italian breakers.
25 February 1937 arrived at La Spezia.
Maldives: 1997 3r sg2683, scott2226a.
Source Lloyds Register. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz Merchant Ships of the World in Color 1910-1929 by Laurence Dunn.:
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