Welcome to our page on the History of Ocean Liners.
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| The huge RMS Olympic. |
The turn of the century along with the Industrial Revolution caused changes in a lot of things, including ship design. In the 1800’s ships were maily being built of wood and sails were used to power their movements. But as the new century came near more and more ships were being made of steel until it completely took over in the early 1900’s. As steel had taken over the wood, steam took over the sails. All this happened in a few short decades. And then at the beginning of the century marine technology had grown by leaps and bounds, the huge ships were being constructed of steel, weighing several thousand tons and hundreds of feet in length.
The speed at which such technology and development grew was largely due to the evolution of the steam engine and the screw propeller. Now ships did not have to rely on Mother Nature for speed, they could make it. This, combined with the vast numbers of diverse immigrants from such countries as Great Britain, France, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia, Hungary, the Balkans and Russia, all seeking a new life in the New World across the ocean.
Naturally, the only way across was by ship and thus led to the creation of shipping lines which “struck gold” with millions crossing to the New World, one million crossed in 1907 alone.
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| The White Star Line Symbol. |
With such a lucrative cargo the shipping lines became extremely competitive to attract customers by offering better and more luxurious accommodations on their ships. Two main factors prevailed- speed and luxury. Speed was a major force in the shipping business as “swiftness” also earned government sanctions such as financial subsidy as well as the privilege of carrying the mail. Hence the name Royal Mail Ship - R.M.S. some legendary shipping lines came about like Cunard, White Star, Hamburg - American, North German Lloyd, Red Star, American, Leyland and Holland America to name a few. They built ships that were literally floating palaces, such as the Imperator, Olympic, the ill-fated Titanic, the Aquitania, France and the Rotterdam.
On these ships class distinction was very notable on board these ships and had various changes over the years. The elite and famous travelling in the most luxurious conditions possible, with maids and valets, stayed in special cabins. The middle class had a comfortable hotel type accommodation. And below the decks, sometimes below water level, the third class or sometimes better known as the steerage class. They lived in hostelry conditions that were very cramped, almost inhumane.
And so, as with most other things that mankind sets his mind to, competition was rewarded with the well known and very coveted large silver cup called the Blue Riband. The British and German liners exchanged this prize many times. The Mauretania held the Blue Riband the longest in history, for twenty years until she lost it in 1929.
In the fifties a new breed of passengers began a new era of mixed groups or class travel from various walks of life. A new chapter began in the history of the liners, but alas it was not to last long as it came prior to the sad demise of these manmade giants. In the 60’s the familiarity of airliners spelt the end to the Golden Era of sailing.
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| The RMS Titanic. |
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