The SS Lake Champlain was an iron screw-steamer built in 1874 by the London & Glasgow Co. Ltd. in Glasgow, representing an advanced design of its time. She was launched on Christmas Day 1874 and served for approximately 13 years. The vessel measured 321 feet in length with a beam of 35 feet and a depth of 26 feet, with a gross tonnage of 2,207 tons, making her a sizable and robust vessel for transatlantic and North American inland service. Her construction featured a hull and 250-horsepower engines crafted at Govan, emphasizing her sturdy build and technological sophistication. Designed for versatility and durability, the Lake Champlain was equipped with three decks—an upper spar deck and two passenger decks—along with features such as steam steering gear, a steam windlass for anchor handling, and four steam winches. She was barque-rigged, combining traditional sailing rigging with steam power, and her hull was specially strengthened to withstand harsh Atlantic weather and potential ice contact, reflecting her intended operation in icy and challenging conditions. Initially owned by the Canada Shipping Company of Montreal and Liverpool, she was registered in Montreal, marking her as the first Clyde-built steamer under the Dominion flag. Her primary route was between Liverpool and Quebec, with her maiden voyage commencing on 13 April 1875. During the navigation season, she also operated between Liverpool and American ports, particularly when the Saint Lawrence River was ice-free. Her service history included notable incidents: on 23 November 1885, she collided near Matane with the SS Bentholme, which sank, and on 30 June 1886, she ran aground on the Antrim coast but was subsequently refloated, sold, and renamed Lismore. Her career ended when she was wrecked at Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic on 8 June 1888. The SS Lake Champlain was an important early example of a technologically advanced, ice-strengthened passenger steamer serving North Atlantic and North American routes.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.