History Ocean liner

1 history

1.1 sails steam (1800 - 1838)

1.1.1 beginning of utilization of steam engine


1.2 birth of grand companies (1838 - 1845)
1.3 first giants (1845 - 1897)
1.4 first golden age (1897 - 1914)

1.4.1 germany entered scene
1.4.2 new british giants


1.5 1 war (1914 - 1939)

1.5.1 world war i
1.5.2 interwar period: second golden age , crisis


1.6 world war ii advent of airliners (1939 - 1975)

1.6.1 world war ii
1.6.2 decline of long-distance line voyages


1.7 21st century

history
from sails steam (1800 - 1838)
the beginning of utilization of steam engine

in 1838, sirius first ship cross atlantic using steam power.



the first voyage of ss great western (1838)

at beginning of 19th century, industrial revolution , inter-continental trade rendered development of secure links between continents imperative. being @ top among colonial powers, united kingdom needed stable maritime routes connect different parts of empire: far east, india, australia, etc. birth of concept of international water , lack of claim simplified navigation.. in 1818, black ball line, fleet of sailing ships, offered first regular passenger service emphasis on passenger comfort, england united states.

in 1807, robert fulton succeeded in applying steam engines ships. built first ship powered technology, clermont, succeeded in traveling between new york city , albany, new york in thirty hours before entering regular service between 2 cities. after, other vessels built using innovation. in 1816, Élise became first steamship cross english channel. important advance came in 1819. ss savannah became first steamship cross atlantic ocean. left city of same name , arrived in liverpool, england in 27 days. however, of distance covered sailing; steam power not used more 72 hours during travel. public enthusiasm new technology not high, , none of thirty-two people had booked seat on board boarded ship historic voyage. although savannah had proven steamship capable of crossing ocean, public not yet prepared trust such means of travel on open sea, and, in 1820, steam engine removed ship.

work on technology continued , new step taken in 1833. royal edward managed cross atlantic using steam power on three-quarter of course. sail used when wall of boilers cleaned. however, there still many skeptics, , in 1836, scientific writer dionysius lardner declared that:

as project of making voyage directly new york liverpool, chimerical, , might talk of making voyage new york moon.

isambard kingdom brunel before launching of ss great eastern in 1857

the last step toward long-distance travel using steam power taken in 1837 when ss sirius left liverpool on april 4 , arrived in new york eighteen days later on april 22 after turbulent crossing. little coal prepared crossing, , crew had burn cabin furniture in order complete voyage. journey took place @ speed of 8.03 knots. voyage made possible use of condenser, fed boilers fresh water, avoiding having periodically shut down boilers in order remove salt. feat short-lived. next day, ss great western, designed railway engineer isambard kingdom brunel, arrived in new york. left liverpool on april 8 , overtook sirius′s record average speed of 8.66 knots. race of speed commenced, and, it, tradition of blue riband.

the birth of grand companies (1838 - 1845)

with great western, isambard kingdom brunel laid foundations new shipbuilding techniques. realised carrying capacity of ship increases cube of dimensions, whilst water resistance increases square of dimensions. means large ships more fuel-efficient, important long voyages across atlantic. constructing large ships therefore more profitable. moreover, migration americas increased enormously. these movements of population financial windfall shipping companies, of largest of founded during time. examples p&o of united kingdom in 1822 , compagnie générale transatlantique of france in 1855.

rms britannia of 1840

the steam engine allowed ships provide regular service without use of sail. aspect particularly appealed postal companies, leased services of ships serve clients separated ocean. in 1839, samuel cunard founded cunard line , became first dedicate activity of shipping company transport of mails, ensuring regular services on given schedule. company s vessels operated routes between united kingdom , united states. on time, paddle wheel, impractical on high seas, abandoned in favour of propeller. in 1840, cunard line’s rms britannia began first regular passenger , cargo service steamship, sailing liverpool boston.

the first giants (1845 - 1897)

ss great eastern of 1858

as size of ship increased, wooden hull became fragile. beginning use of iron hull in 1845, , steel hulls, solved problem. first ship both iron-hulled , equipped screw propeller ss great britain, creation of brunel. however, career disastrous , short. run aground , stranded @ dundrum bay in 1846. in 1884, retired falkland islands used warehouse, quarantine ship, , coal hulk until scuttled in 1937. american company collins line took different approach. equipped ships cold rooms, heating system, , various other innovations operation expensive. sinking of 2 of ships major blow company dissolved in 1858.

in 1858, brunel built third , last giant, ss great eastern. ship was, 43 years, largest passenger ship ever built. had capacity carry 4,000 passengers. however, career marked series of failures , incidents, 1 of explosion on board during maiden voyage.

many ships owned german companies hamburg america line , norddeutscher lloyd sailing major german ports, such hamburg , bremen, united states during time. year 1858 marked major accident: sinking of ss austria. ship, built in greenock , sailing between hamburg , new york twice month, suffered accidental fire off coast of newfoundland , sank loss of 89 of 542 passengers.

rms teutonic of 1889

in british market, cunard line , white star line (the latter after being bought thomas ismay in 1868), competed against each other in late 1860s. struggle symbolised attainment of blue riband, 2 companies achieved several times around end of century. luxury , technology of ships evolving. auxiliary sails became obsolete , disappeared @ end of century. possible military use of passenger ships envisaged and, in 1889, rms teutonic became first auxiliary cruiser in history. in time of war, ships equipped cannons , used in cases of conflict. teutonic succeeded in impressing emperor wilhelm ii of germany, wanted see country endowed modern fleet.

in 1870, white star line’s rms oceanic set new standard ocean travel having first-class cabins amidships, added amenity of large portholes, electricity , running water. size of ocean liners increased 1880 meet needs of immigration united states , australia.

rms umbria , sister ship rms etruria last 2 cunard liners of period fitted auxiliary sails. both ships built john elder & co. of glasgow, scotland, in 1884. record breakers standards of time, , largest liners in service, plying liverpool new york route.

ss ophir 6814-ton steamship owned orient steamship co., , fitted refrigeration equipment. plied suez canal route england australia during 1890s, until years leading world war when converted armed merchant cruiser.

the first golden age (1897 - 1914)
germany entered scene

ss kaiser wilhelm der grosse of 1897

in 1897, norddeutscher lloyd launched ss kaiser wilhelm der grosse. followed 3 years later 3 sister ships. ship both luxurious , fast, managing steal blue riband british. first of fourteen ocean liners 4 funnels have emerged in maritime history. ship needed 2 funnels, more funnels gave passengers feeling of safety , power.

in 1900, hamburg america line competed own four-funnel liner, ss deutschland. obtained blue riband company. race speed, however, detriment passengers comfort , generated strong vibration, made owner lose interest in after lost blue riband ship of norddeutscher lloyd. used ten years transatlantic crossing before being converted cruise ship. until 1907 blue riband remained in hands of germans.

in 1902, j. p. morgan embraced idea of maritime empire comprising large number of companies. founded international mercantile marine co., trust comprised american shipping companies. trust absorbed leyland line , white star line. british government decided intervene in order regain ascendancy.

the new british giants

rms mauretania of 1907



the sinking of rms titanic in 1912 led serious re-examination of safety measures @ sea.

although german liners dominated in terms of speed, british liners dominated in terms of size. rms oceanic , big 4 of white star line first liners surpass ss great eastern largest passenger ships. however, ultimately, owner american (as mentioned above, white star line had been absorbed j. p. morgan s trust). faced major competition, british government contributed financially cunard line s construction of 2 liners of unmatched size , speed, under condition available conversion armed cruisers when needed navy. result of partnership completion in 1907 of 2 sister ships: rms lusitania , rms mauretania, both of won blue riband during respective maiden voyages. latter retained distinction twenty years. great speed achieved use of turbines instead of conventional expansion machines. in response competition cunard line, white star line ordered olympic-class liners @ end of 1907. first of these 3 liners, rms olympic, completed in 1911, had fine career, although punctuated incidents. not case sister, infamous rms titanic, sank on maiden voyage on 15 april 1912, resulting in several changes maritime safety practices.

at same time, france tried mark presence completion in 1912 of ss france owned compagnie générale transatlantique. germany responded competition british. 1912 1914, hamburg america line completed trio of liners larger white star line s olympic-class ships. first completed, in 1913 ss imperator. followed ss vaterland in 1914. construction of third liner, ss bismarck, paused outbreak of world war i.

from 1 war (1914 - 1939)
world war i

rms olympic dazzle camouflage during world war i



rms majestic (formerly bismarck of 1914)

the first world war hard time liners. of them, mauretania, aquitania, , britannic transformed hospital ships during conflict. others became troop transports, while some, such kaiser wilhelm der grosse, participated in war warships. troop transportation popular due liners large size. liners converted troop ships painted in dazzle camouflage reduce risk of being torpedoed enemy submarines.

the war, however, marked loss of many liners. britannic, while serving hospital ship, sank in aegean sea in 1916 after struck mine. numerous incidents of torpedoing took place , large numbers of ships sank. kaiser wilhelm der grosse defeated , scuttled after fierce battle hms higflyer off coast of west africa, while sister ship kronprinz wilhelm served commerce raider. torpedoing , sinking of rms lusitania on 7 may 1915 caused loss of 128 american lives @ time when united states still neutral. although other factors came play, loss of american lives in sinking pushed united states favour allied powers , facilitated country s entry war.

the losses of liners owned allied powers compensated treaty of versailles in 1919. led awarding of many german liners victorious allies. hamburg america line s trio (imperator, vaterland, , bismarck) divided between cunard line, white star line, , united states lines, while 3 surviving ships of kaiser-class requisitioned navy in context of conflict , retained. of german superliners, deutschland, because of poor state, avoided fate.

interwar period: second golden age , crisis

ss paris of 1921



ss bremen of 1928

after period of reconstruction, shipping companies recovered damage caused first world war. ships, construction started before war, such ss paris of french line, completed , put service. prominent british liners, such olympic , mauretania, put service , had successful career in 1920s. more modern liners built, such ss Île de france (completed in 1927). united states lines, having received vaterland, renamed leviathan , made flagship of company s fleet. however, because u.s. registered ships counted extension of u.s. territory, national prohibition act made american liners alcohol-free, causing alcohol-seeking passengers choose other liners travel , remarkably reducing profits united states lines.

in 1929, germany returned scene 2 ships of norddeutscher lloyd, ss bremen , ss europa. bremen won blue riband britain s mauretania after latter had held twenty years. soon, italy entered scene. italian line completed ss rex , ss conte di savoia in 1932, breaking records of both luxury , speed (the rex won westbound blue riband in 1933). france marked second golden age of ocean liners ss normandie of french line. ship largest ship afloat @ time of completion in 1932. fastest, winning blue riband in 1935.

however, crisis arrived. united states drastically reduced immigrant quotas, causing shipping companies lose large part of income , have adapt circumstance. great depression played important role, causing drastic decrease in number of people crossing atlantic , @ same time reducing number of profitable transatlantic voyages. in response, shipping companies redirected many of liners more profitable cruise service. in 1934, in united kingdom, cunard line , white star line in bad shape financially. chancellor of exchequer arthur neville chamberlain proposed merge 2 companies in order solve financial problems. merger took place in 1934 , launched construction of queen mary while progressively sending older ships scrapyard. construction of second ship, queen elizabeth, interrupted outbreak of world war ii.

from world war ii advent of airliners (1939 - 1975)
world war ii

the queen mary, serving troopship, arriving in new york in 1945



the sinking of wilhelm gustloff deadliest in maritime history.

the second world war conflict rich in events involving liners. start of conflict, german liners requisitioned , many turned barracks ships. in course of activity bremen caught fire , scrapped in 1941. during conflict, rms queen elizabeth , rms queen mary provided distinguished service troopships.

many liners sunk great loss of life; in world war ii 3 worst disasters loss of cunarder lancastria in 1940 off saint-nazaire german bombing while attempting evacuate troops of british expeditionary force france, loss of more 3,000 lives; sinking of wilhelm gustloff, after ship torpedoed soviet submarine, more 9,000 lives lost, making deadliest maritime disaster in history; , sinking of ss cap arcona more 7,000 lives lost, both in baltic sea, in 1945.

ss rex bombarded , sunk in 1942, while normandie caught fire, capsized , sank in new york in 1942 while being converted troop duty. many of superliners of twenties , thirties victims of u-boats, mines or enemy aircraft. empress of britain attacked german planes, torpedoed u-boat when tugs tried tow safety.

decline of long-distance line voyages

ss united states of 1952

after war, ships again transferred defeated nations winning nations war reparations. case of europa, ceded france , renamed liberté. united states government impressed service of cunard s queen mary , queen elizabeth troopships during war. ensure reliable , fast troop transport in case of war against soviet union, u.s. government sponsored construction of ss united states , entered service united states lines in 1952. won blue riband on maiden voyage in year , held until richard branson won in 1986 virgin atlantic challenger ii. 1 year later, in 1953, italy completed prestigious ss andrea doria, later sank in 1956 after collision ms stockholm.

before world war ii, aircraft had not been significant threat ocean liners. pre-war aircraft noisy, vulnerable bad weather, few had range needed transoceanic flights, , expensive , had small passenger capacity. war accelerated development of large, long-ranged aircraft. four-engined bombers, such avro lancaster , boeing b-29 superfortress, range , massive carrying capacity, natural prototypes post-war next-generation airliners. jet engine technology accelerated due wartime development of jet aircraft. in 1953, de havilland comet became first commercial jet airliner; sud aviation caravelle, boeing 707 , douglas dc-8 followed, , long-distance travel done air. italian line s ss michelangelo , ss raffaello, launched in 1962 , 1963, 2 of last ocean liners built liner service across north atlantic. cunard s transatlantic liner, queen elizabeth 2, used cruise ship. 1960s, 95% of passenger traffic across atlantic aircraft. reign of ocean liners came end. 1970s, many passenger ships continued service in cruising.

in 1982, during falklands war, 3 active or former liners requisitioned war service british government. liners queen elizabeth 2 , canberra, requisitioned cunard , p&o serve troopships, carrying british army personnel ascension island , falkland islands recover falklands invading argentine forces. p&o educational cruise ship , former british india steam navigation company liner uganda requisitioned hospital ship, , served after war troopship until raf mount pleasant station built @ stanley, handle trooping flights.

21st century

rms queen mary 2 (2003)

by first decade of 21st century, few former ocean liners still in existence, ss norway, sailing cruise ships while others, queen mary, preserved museums, or laid @ pier side ss united states. after retirement of queen elizabeth 2 in 2008, ocean liner in service queen mary 2, built in 2003–04, used both point-to-point line voyages , cruises.