Up until the second half of the 1890s, the White Star Line were determined to have the biggest passenger liner on the North Atlantic but then their policy changed and the line decided that rather than go for the fastest ships, the opted for the most comfortable.

So with savings made on the cost and space of machinery, the quality of the public rooms and accommodation could be greatly improved until it was way above that of their rivals.

Their long awaited new passenger liner Oceanic II was launched at Belfast on January 14th, 1899, of Volume: 17,272 gross tons, Length: 704 feet, with a beam of 68.4ft (20.84m.) Service Speed: 19.5 knots.

She had accommodation for 410 First class, 300 Second class and 1,000 Third class passengers.

Oceanic was a record breaker and innovator in steamship design. The only White Star Line ship built exclusively for Speed, she was said to have exceeded 30 knots and was fitted with electric lights and had refrigeration capabilities.

Oceanic was the first steamer to exceed the length of the Great Eastern, of 1854, which was 679.6ft long but had a greater tonnage, 18.915tons.

The Oceanic sailed from Liverpool on September 6th 1899, on her maiden voyage to New York, via Queenstown.

The career of the Oceanic came to an end in 1914 when in good weather conditions and a flat calm sea she was beached on the Hoevdi Rocks, 2 miles east of Foula Island in the Shetlands.

She laid there until all attempt to save her had failed. Oceanic was declared a total constructive loss on the 29 September 1914. After a severe gale the Oceanic disappeared completely until divers Alec Crawford and Simon Martin discovered the wreck in 1973 lying in 10-12 meters of water. Over the years a number if items were recovered from the wreck, including, her propeller blades which are now on display in the Shetland Museum and the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum in Northern Island.

1899

Thomas Henry Ismay Dies

On November 23rd, Thomas Henry Ismay founder of the Ocean Steam Navigation Company Ltd. (White Star Line) died, he was succeeded by his son, Bruce Ismay.

The White Star Line had been delighted with the success of the Oceanic and placed an order for the first of what would be four similar ships, Celtic, 20,904grt; Cedric, 21,035grt; Baltic, 23,876grt and Adriatic, 24,541grt.

They would be known as the ‘Big Four’.

The Celtic was 680.9ft. (207.25m.) long with a beam of 75.3ft. (22.95m.) and had accommodation for 347 First class, 160 Second class and 2,350 Third class passengers. She had a speed of 16 knots. For a short time, the Celtic was the largest passenger liner in the world.

She sailed from Liverpool on July 26th 1901, on her maiden voyage to New York; the Cedric sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage on February 11th 1903; the Baltic sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage on June 29th, 1904; and the Adriatic sailed from Liverpool on May 8th, 1907, on her maiden voyage to New York.

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