The lucrative North Atlantic route was extremely competitive in this period, with new, attractive ships from other large companies including the , , and , of the Cunard Line, and the , , and of the White Star Line. The HAPAG introduced three new vessels of the Imperator class, , , and , with a size of 50,000 GT. The NDL responded with smaller but prestigious vessels such as the and the , and transferred the SS "Berlin" from Mediterranean service to the New York run. Finally in 1914 the company ordered two liners of the Columbus class; however, World War I prevented their completion.