RMS Oceanic (1870)

RMS "Oceanic" was the White Star Line's first liner and an important turning point in passenger liner design.

She was built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, and was launched on 27 August 1870, arriving in Liverpool for her maiden voyage on 26 February 1871. Powered by a combination of steam and sail, she had twelve boilers generating steam at 65 pounds-force per square inch (450 kPa), powered a single four cylinder compound steam engine, 2 x 78 inch (1.98 m) and 2 x 41 inch (1.04 m), with a stroke of 60 inches (1.52 m). A single funnel exhausted smoke and four masts carried sail. The hull was constructed of iron and divided into eleven watertight compartments. "Oceanic" could carry 166 first class and 1,000 third class passengers, with a crew of 143. White Star had spared no expense in her construction, and the contemporary press described the ship as an "imperial yacht".

"Oceanic" left for her maiden voyage from Liverpool on 2 March 1871 carrying only 64 passengers, under Captain Sir Digby Murray. Not long after departing, she had to return because of overheated bearings. Her voyage restarted on the 16th of March. From that point onward, "Oceanic" was a success for White Star.

Innovative features included positioning the first class passenger cabins amidships, away from the vibration of engines and with the least ocean movement. Third class passengers were placed at the bow and stern of the ship. All first class could be seated at once in the first class dining saloon amidships. Portholes in the ship were much larger than on contemporary liners, providing more light. Running water was available for most if not all the first class cabins. There were also electric bells to summon a steward.

Three sister ships were constructed in rapid succession: the "Atlantic", "Baltic", and "Republic". All were of the same approximate dimensions with differences in tonnages.

In January, 1872, the "Oceanic" underwent a refit, during which a large forecastle was added to help prevent the front of the ship being during high seas. Two new boilers were added to increase steam pressure and thus engine power, and the four masts were shortened.

"Oceanic" continued sailing with the White Star line on the Liverpool to New York route until 11 March 1875, when she was chartered to the Occidental & Oriental Steamship Company, for service between San Francisco, Yokohama and Hong Kong. White Star provided the officers, while the crew was Chinese. The ship itself remained in White Star colours, but flew the O&O flag. During the repositioning voyage from Liverpool to Hong Kong, the "Oceanic" set a speed record for that route. Later, she also set a speed record for Yokohama to San Francisco in December 1876, and then broke her own record over that route in November, 1889, with a time of 13 days, 14 hours and 5 minutes.

On August 22, 1888, the "Oceanic" collided with the coastal liner "City of Chester" just outside of the Golden Gate; the latter ship sank, killing 16 onboard. [The New-York Times, 23August 1888]

In 1895, the "Oceanic" was returned to White Star, who planned on putting her back into service. She was sent back to Harland and Wolff for re-engining, but when the ship was inspected closely, it was found to be uneconomical to perform all the work needed. Instead, she was sold for scrap, leaving Belfast for the last time on February 10, 1896, under tow, for a scrapyard on the River Thames.

pecifications

*Length: 420 feet, 4 inches (128.4 m)
*Beam: 40 feet, 10 inches (12.4 m)
*Tonnage: 3,707 tons
*Speed: 14.5 knots (service speed)
*Passenger capacity: 1,166

References

* [http://www.greatoceanliners.net/index2.html "Oceanic" info at GreatOceanLiners.net]
* [http://www.immigrantships.net/v7/1800v7/oceanic18710330.html For a listing of passengers on one voyage]