[The following is a condensed version of a true-life exchange of e-mail messages. Any similarity to actual persons or events is purely because the messages were written by actual persons discussing actual persons and events.] A Ship By Any Other Name Chapter 1: The Exchange John: I'm a new member of PCGS [and] have been addicted to genealogy since August 2000. My late mother often told me as a youngster that my Irish grandparents met and fell in love on the ship to America. Well, thanks to the Ellis Island website, I verified that story. I have sent for an 8 X 10 glossy photograph of the "Love Boat" (aka SS Furnessia). The Steamship Historical Society of America has an extensive collection of steamship photos for sale. I bought my German grandfather`s ship`s photo ( SS Zeeland ) from them already. Barbara: Congratulations, John! It's a small world. My great-grandfather's brother immigrated on the SS ZEELAND. John: My grandfather was on the SS Zeeland (Red Star Line) that arrived in NY on 28 July 1902. The ship was built in 1901. What year did your great-uncle come to America on the SS Zeeland ? Barbara: Built in 1901? Interesting! My gr-grandfather's brother immigrated on the SS Zeeland, Red Star Line, in 1879. They sailed from Antwerp to Philadelphia. The Red Star Line must have retired the "old" Zeeland, and christened a new one in 1901. I didn't realize that they re-used ship names. John: Ships change owners and often get name changes. The SS Java was purchased by Red Star Line in 1878 and renamed SS Zeeland. It sailed for Red Star until 1889. Then it was sold to France and renamed the SS Electrique. The first SS Zeeland was only 2,866 tons. A brand-new SS Zeeland was launched in 1901. It was 11,905 tons ! A much larger ship. That`s why when people order ship`s photographs it is very important to include the year that an ancestor sailed on that ship. The name alone isn`t enough.