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The White Star Line’s
Oceanic became the first ship to
exceed the Great Eastern’s
length of 692 feet. With Brunel’s
18,915-ton Great Eastern having
been scrapped in 1888, Oceanic was
the longest and heaviest ship in service
at the start of the 20th Century. She
held that title until the first of the
White Star Line's ‘Big Four’
Celtic entered service in 1901 at
20,904 tons. Oceanic set out on
her maiden voyage from Liverpool - New
York August 6th 1899. After seven years
on that run, she was transferred to the
White Star Line’s new terminal at
Southampton. The White Star Line
continued to operate Oceanic on
the Southampton - New York run until the
British Admiralty requisitioned her to
serve as an armed merchant cruiser during
World War One (August 1st 1914 - November
11th 1918).
The Admiralty appointed a navy captain
to take control of the ship with
Oceanic’s own captain
‘Henry Smith’ retained to
assist him. Whilst rounding the north
coast of Scotland September 8th 1914,
Captain Smith instructed the navy officer
he was taking Oceanic dangerously
close to the Island of Foula. The navy
officer’s failure to take his
advice led to strong currents pushing
Oceanic onto rocks. After two
weeks trying to pull the stricken ship
free, the Admiralty called off the
salvage operation as her condition had
deteriorated to an extent she was
declared a total loss. The wreck of
Oceanic remained on the rocks
untouched until 1926. As attempts to
dispose of the White Star Line ship at
that time only succeeded in dismantling
her to the waterline, another salvage
operation had to be carried out in 1979
to clear the remaining wreckage from the
site. After the Oceanic incident,
captains of any large British liners
requisitioned for wartime duties were
given full control of their own
vessels.
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