 She was launched on 9 July 1914 but the First World War broke out only weeks later and fitting-out work stopped for a year.In 1915 the British government requisitioned "Statendam" for use as a troopship.The ship was at first given to the Cunard Line to manage because of the sinking of , and the ship was renamed "Justicia" (Latin for justice) because of their traditional ship suffix -ia.