RMS Adriatic (1906)

RMS Adriatic underway in Belfast harbour, April 1907
History
United Kingdom
NameRMS Adriatic
NamesakeAdriatic Sea
OwnerOceanic Steam Nav Co.
Operator
Port of registryLiverpool
RouteLiverpoolCobhNew York (1907) (1911-1919) (1922-1934) Southampton-Cherbourg-New York (1907-1911) (1919-1921)
BuilderHarland and Wolff, Belfast
Yard number358
Launched20 September 1906
Completed25 April 1907
Maiden voyage8 May 1907
In service1907
Out of service1935
Identification
FateScrapped in Onomichi, 1935
General characteristics
Class and typeBig Four
TypeOcean liner
Tonnage24,541 GRT, 15,638 NRT
Length729 ft (222 m)
Beam75.6 ft (23.0 m)
Depth52.6 ft (16.0 m)
Decks4
Installed power16 000 hp
Propulsion
Speed18 knots (33 km/h) (max)
Range5000 nmi
Boats & landing
craft carried
20 lifeboats
Capacity
  • 2,825 passengers:
    • 425 First Class
    • 500 Second Class
    • 1900 Third Class
  • 51,120 cu ft (1,448 m3) refrigerated cargo
Crew557

RMS Adriatic was a British ocean liner of the White Star Line. She was the fourth of a quartet of ships of more than 20,000 GRT, dubbed The Big Four. The Adriatic was the only one of the four which was never the world's largest ship. However, she was the largest, the fastest, and the most luxurious of the Big Four, being the first ocean liner to have an indoor swimming pool and Victorian-style Turkish baths.[1]

She began her career on the brand new route from Southampton to New York before joining, from 1911, her sister ships on the secondary route from Liverpool. They were in fact slow liners intended to provide a service at moderate prices. When World War I broke out, the Adriatic was among the ships that continued their civilian transatlantic service, while carrying many provisions. In 1917, she was requisitioned and served as a troop transport.

After the war, she was refitted several times and was gradually used for cruises, which became her main services in the 1930s. When Cunard Line and White Star Line merged in 1934, she was quickly deemed unnecessary and sold at the end of the year. She was scrapped in Osaka in 1935.

  1. ^ Shifrin, Malcolm (2015). "Chapter 23: The Turkish bath at sea". Victorian Turkish Baths. Historic England. ISBN 978-1-84802-230-0.