Athenic had a long and varied career. She was built as a cargo/passenger ship for the New Zealand trade. During the 1st World War, she served as a WWI troop transport. In 1928 White Star sold her to a Norwegian firm; she was converted into a whaling ship and renamed Pelagos. In 1941, the ship was captured by the German raider, Penguin, in Antarctica. The German Kriegsmarine converted Athenic/Pelagos into an oil tanker to refuel German U-Boats at sea. In 1942, she was sunk by a British submarine. But in 1945 the Norwegians raised her; she was refitted as a passenger ship and served in that capacity until 1962 when she was scrapped.

Our research into Athenic's eventful life continues.