Like her sister Cufic , Runic was a cattle carrier, designed to carry 1,000 head of live cattle eastbound and general cargo westbound; she also had accommodations for 48 passengers.

 

Runic was sold to the West India & Pacific Steamship Company in 1895 and was renamed Tampican, a name that she retained when her owner was acquired by the Leyland Line in 1899. She was then sold twice in 1912, first to H.E. Moss & Company, and then to South Pacific Whaling Company, a Norwegian firm which converted her into a whaling ship. South Pacific Whaling Company renamed her Imo.

 

On 6th December 1917, Imo made history when she collided with the French Line's Mont Blanc in Halifax harbour. Mont Blanc, carrying 2800 tons (2545 metric tons) of munitions, exploded, setting off what has been called "the largest manmade explosion ... before the first atomic bomb."  The blast wiped out the Richmond district of the city in a blast felt up to 270 miles (430 km) away. The casualty figures were astounding: at least 1600 killed, up to 2000 more missing and never found, 9000 injured, 25,000 at least temporarily homeless. In all, over 1600 buildings in a 16 mile (26 km) radius were destroyed and 12,000 more were damaged. The total property loss was estimated at $35,000,000. The explosion also caused a 13 foot (3.96 m) tidal wave that destroyed buildings and damaged warships designed to withstand enemy attack. Mont Blanc herself was obliterated. Imo survived, although badly damaged. After repairs, Imo was renamed Guvernoren and returned to her prior whaling duties.

 

Guvernoren went aground on rocks near Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands on 30th November 1921, and was a total loss.