Post by Administrator on Mar 16, 2021 17:29:52 GMT
SS SUEVIC: World's "Longest" Ship (1901)
Hull No. 333 SS SUEVIC was the 5th, and final, ship of White Star's Jubilee-class. She -- and her elder sisters Afric, Medic, Persic, and Runic -- were constructed between 1898 and 1901 for the UK/Australia route. At 12,531 GRT, 563ft, and 13.5 knots SUEVIC was a modest little workhorse compared to her better known transatlantic fleet-mates. She was equal parts cargo ship and immigrant carrier. As such her passenger accommodation consisted solely of 3rd-class. Such a ship was destined to become a footnote in the history of the White Star Line; that is until 17 March 1907. En route to Plymouth, a port of call prior to her final destination of Liverpool, she approached the Cornwall coast near Lizard Point in heavy fog around 10:00 pm. Her captain believed her to be several miles off shore and was expecting the Lizard Point lighthouse to appear directly ahead, albeit at some distance, rather soon. Instead it emerged suddenly on the port side of the liner as she slammed violently into the coastal rocks at full speed. Fortunately for her passengers, in addition to the lighthouse, there was a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station nearby. Over the course of 16 hours the entirety of her passengers and crew were safely evacuated by their large, land based lifeboats. The total saved, 456 lives, remains a record for the RNLI to this day. Over the course of the next 3 weeks there were repeated attempts to pull the SUEVIC off the rocks. It seemed the vessel was a total loss. Yet, the White Star Line proposed an unusual solution. The majority of the SUEVIC's passenger accommodation and machinery were well aft of the bow. Using carefully placed dynamite charges, the functional stern was separated from the bow on 2 April 1907 just aft of her bridge. With tug assist, she steamed in reverse to Southampton. The White Star Line ordered a new bow for her, but during her time in Southampton, she earned a humorous superlative: "Longest Ship in the World." Her new bow was in Belfast while her stern was in Southampton -- thus, she was the "longest" ship in the world!
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Hull No. 333 SS SUEVIC was the 5th, and final, ship of White Star's Jubilee-class. She -- and her elder sisters Afric, Medic, Persic, and Runic -- were constructed between 1898 and 1901 for the UK/Australia route. At 12,531 GRT, 563ft, and 13.5 knots SUEVIC was a modest little workhorse compared to her better known transatlantic fleet-mates. She was equal parts cargo ship and immigrant carrier. As such her passenger accommodation consisted solely of 3rd-class. Such a ship was destined to become a footnote in the history of the White Star Line; that is until 17 March 1907. En route to Plymouth, a port of call prior to her final destination of Liverpool, she approached the Cornwall coast near Lizard Point in heavy fog around 10:00 pm. Her captain believed her to be several miles off shore and was expecting the Lizard Point lighthouse to appear directly ahead, albeit at some distance, rather soon. Instead it emerged suddenly on the port side of the liner as she slammed violently into the coastal rocks at full speed. Fortunately for her passengers, in addition to the lighthouse, there was a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station nearby. Over the course of 16 hours the entirety of her passengers and crew were safely evacuated by their large, land based lifeboats. The total saved, 456 lives, remains a record for the RNLI to this day. Over the course of the next 3 weeks there were repeated attempts to pull the SUEVIC off the rocks. It seemed the vessel was a total loss. Yet, the White Star Line proposed an unusual solution. The majority of the SUEVIC's passenger accommodation and machinery were well aft of the bow. Using carefully placed dynamite charges, the functional stern was separated from the bow on 2 April 1907 just aft of her bridge. With tug assist, she steamed in reverse to Southampton. The White Star Line ordered a new bow for her, but during her time in Southampton, she earned a humorous superlative: "Longest Ship in the World." Her new bow was in Belfast while her stern was in Southampton -- thus, she was the "longest" ship in the world!
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