The Fleets
This page covers White Star Line, Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. and White Star Line of Boston Packets.
Founded 1845 and started sailing ship voyages the following year with chartered brig ELIZABETH to Montreal. Purchased their first ship in 1849 - barque IOWA and advertised as the 'White Star Line of Boston Packets'. Commenced steamship sailings 1863.
Went into liquidation in 1868 and bought out by Thomas Ismay who formed the Oceanic Steam Nav.Co. in 1869 (known thereafter as the White Star Line). 1926 Oceanic SN Co. taken over by Royal Mail SP Co., 1934 Royal Mail Group collapsed and White Star and Cunard SS Co formed Cunard-White Star Ltd. 1947 Cunard purchased the remainder of Cunard-White Star stock and in 1949 took over all activities but the two remaining White Star ships, GEORGIC and BRITANNIC continued sailing in White Star Line colours until they were scrapped in 1956 and 1960 when the White Star name finally disappeared.
The company sailed from Liverpool via Queenstown to New York. Later, they started sailing through the Suez Canal to Bombay, Calcutta, Hong Kong and Sydney. White Star also sailed to Japan and China. The sailing time by the fast vessels in the fleet was under 6 days Liverpool to New York. The line also sailed monthly to New Zealand and monthly from San Francisco to Japan and China. The Oceanic, in 1889, made the voyage to Yokohama from San Francisco in 13 days, 14 hours, 4 minutes.
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
Routes
- 1872-1960 Liverpool - New York (later with calls at Queenstown (Cobh)
- 1872-1960 Liverpool - Boston/Philadelphia
- 1899-1934 Liverpool - Melbourne - Sydney via the Cape
- 1883-1926 Liverpool - New Zealand via the Cape.
- 1872-1873 Liverpool - Valparaiso via Cape Horn.
- 1872-1873 Liverpool - Suez - Calcutta
- 1875-1883 San Francisco - Yokohama - Hong Kong.
- 1903-1909 New York - Azores - Gibraltar - Naples - Genoa.
- 1907-1934 Southampton - Cherbourg - New York.
- 1909-1939 Liverpool - Belfast/Glasgow - Quebec - Montreal.
- 1922-1926 Hamburg/Bremen - Quebec - Montreal
- 1928-1930 London - Havre - Southampton - Quebec - Montreal.
Company Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adriatic (1) | 1872 | 1899 scrapped Preston. | 3,888 |
| Adriatic (2) | 1907 | 1935 scrapped Japan. | 24,541 |
| Afric | 1899 | 1917 torpedoed and sunk; loss of 22 lives. | 11,948 |
| Albertic | 1923 | ex- Munchen North German Lloyd, war reparations, 1923 transferred to Royal Mail SP Co, renamed Ohio, 1927 purchased by White Star and renamed Albertic, 1934 scrapped at Japan. | 18,940 |
| Arabic (1) | 1881 | 1890 sold to Holland America Line, renamed Spaarndam. | 4,368 |
| Arabic (2) | 1903 | 1915 torpedoed and sunk off Ireland; loss of 44 lives. | 15,801 |
| Arabic (3) | 1908 | ex- Berlin North German Lloyd, war reparations, 1921 renamed Arabic, 1925-1929 Red Star Line service, 1930 White Star, 1931 scrapped Genoa. | 16,786 |
| Armenian | 1895 | 1903 transferred from Leyland Line, 1904 cargo service only, 1914 torpedoed and sunk off Cornwall. | 8,825 |
| Asiatic (1) | 1871 | 1873 sold to African SS Co (Elder Dempster & Co) renamed Ambriz. | 2,122 |
| Athenic | 1902 | 1928 sold Tonsberg converted to Whale Factory ship, renamed Pelagos. | 12,234 |
| Atlantic | 1871 | 1873 wrecked near Halifax NS; loss of 585 lives. | 3,707 |
| Baltic (1) | 1871 | 1883 and 1885-1886 chartered to Inman Line, 1888 sold to Holland America Line, renamed Veendam. | 2,209 |
| Baltic (2) | 1904 | 1933 scrapped Japan. | 23,876 |
| Bardic | 1918 | ex- War Argus, 1919 purchased from the Shipping Controller renamed Bardic, 1925 transferred to the Aberdeen Line renamed Hostilius. | 8,010 |
| Belgic (1) | 1874 | 1875-1883 chartered to Occidental & Oriental SS Co., San Francisco, 1883 sold to Portugal, renamed Goefredo. | 2,652 |
| Belgic (2) | 1885 | 1899 sold to Atlantic Transport Line, renamed Mohawk. | 4,212 |
| Belgic (3) | 1903 | ex- Mississippi, Atlantic Transport Line, ex- Samland, 1911 transferred from Red Star Line, renamed Belgic, 1913 reverted to Red Star Samland. | 9,748 |
| Belgic (4) | 1917 | 1923 transferred to Red Star Line, renamed Belgenland. | 24,547 |
| Bovic | 1892 | 1922 transferred to Leyland Line, renamed Colonian. | 6,583 |
| Britannic (1) | 1874 | 1903 scrapped Hamburg. In 1887 collided with Celtic. | 5,004 |
| Britannic (2) | 1915 | 1916 torpedoed or mined and sunk in Aegean Sea while hospital ship; loss of 21 lives. | 48,158 |
| Britannic (3) | 1930 | 1934 taken over by Cunard-White Star, 1960 scrapped Inverkeithing. | 26,943 |
| Calgaric | 1927 | ex- Orca purchased from Royal Mail SP Co, 1935 scrapped Rosyth. | 16,063 |
| Canopic | 1900 | ex- Commonwealth 1903 purchased from Dominion Line, 1925 scrapped Briton Ferry. | 12,268 |
| Cedric | 1902 | 1932 scrapped Inverkeithing. | 21,035 |
| Celtic (1) | 1872 | 1893 sold Thingvalla Line, renamed Amerika. In 1887 collided with Britannic. | 3,867 |
| Celtic (2) | 1901 | 1928 wrecked near Cobh Harbour. | 21,035 |
| Ceramic | 1913 | 1934 transferred to Shaw, Savill & Albion Line. | 18,495 |
| Cevic | 1894 | 1914 converted to dummy battleship HMS Queen Mary, 1916 converted to naval oil tanker Bayol. | 8,301 |
| Coptic | 1881 | 1906 sold to Pacific Mail SS Co, renamed Persia. | 4,367 |
| Corinthic | 1902 | 1931 scrapped at Blyth. | 12,367 |
| Cretic | 1902 | ex- Hanoverian, Leyland Line, ex-Mayflower, 1903 purchased from Dominion Line, renamed Cretic, 1923 sold to Leyland Line, renamed Devonian. | 13,507 |
| Cufic (1) | 1888 | 1896 chartered to Spain, renamed Nuestra Senora De Guadeloupe, 1898 reverted to Cufic (White Star), 1901 sold to Dominion Line, renamed Manxman. | 4,639 |
| Cufic (2) | 1895 | ex- American 1904 purchased from Leyland Line, 1923 sold Italy renamed Antartico. | 8,249 |
| Cymric | 1898 | 1916 torpedoed and sunk; loss of 5 lives. | 13,096 |
| Delphic (1) | 1897 | 1917 torpedoed and sunk; loss of 5 lives. | 8,273 |
| Delphic (2) | 1918 | ex- Mesaba, 1925 transferred from Atlantic Transport Line renamed Delphic, 1933 sold to Clan Line renamed Clan Farquhar (2) | 8,006 |
| Doric (1) | 1883 | 1906 sold to Pacific Mail SS Co, renamed Asia. | 4,784 |
| Doric (2) | 1922 | 1935 scrapped after collision off Portugal. | 16,484 |
| Gaelic (1) | 1873 | 1875-1883 chartered to Occidental & Oriental SS Co, San Francisco, 1883 sold to Cia de Nav.La Flecha, Bilbao, renamed Hugo. | 2,865 |
| Gaelic (2) | 1885 | 1905 sold to Pacific Steam Nav.Co, renamed Callao. | 4,206 |
| Gallic (1) | 1894 | paddle steamer, ex-Birkenhead 1907 purchased from Birkenhead Corporation, Cherbourg passenger tender, 1913 scrapped. | 461 |
| Gallic (2) | 1918 | ex- War Argus, 1919 purchased from the Shipping Controller renamed Gallic, 1933 sold to Clan Line renamed Clan Colquhoun (2) | 7,914 |
| Georgic (1) | 1895 | 1916 captured and sunk by German raider Moewe. | 10,077 |
| Georgic (2) | 1931 | 1934 Cunard-White Star, 1956 scrapped Faslane. | 27,759 |
| Germanic | 1874 | 1904 sold to American Line, then Dominion Line, 1905 renamed Ottawa. | 5,008 |
| Gothic | 1893 | 1907 transferred to Red Star Line, renamed Gothland, 1911 White Star Gothic, 1913 Red Star Gothland, 1926 scrapped Bo'ness. | 7,755 |
| Haverford | 1901 | 1921 transferred from American Line, 1922 transferred to American Line. | 11,635 |
| Homeric | 1913 | ex- Columbus, North German Lloyd, war reparations, 1922 renamed Homeric, 1936 scrapped at Inverkeithing. | 34,351 |
| Ionic (1) | 1883 | 1900 chartered to Spanish Government for trooping, 1900 sold to Aberdeen Line, renamed Sophocles. | 4,753 |
| Ionic (2) | 1903 | 1932 transferred to Shaw, Savill & Albion Line. | 12,352 |
| Justicia | 1917 | 1918 torpedoed and sunk off Skerryvore; loss of 10 lives. | 32,234 |
| Lapland | 1908 | 1914 transferred from Red Star Line, 1920 returned to Red Star Line. | 18,565 |
| Laurentic (1) | 1908 | 1917 mined and sunk off Ireland; loss of 354 lives. | 14,892 |
| Laurentic (2) | 1927 | 1940 torpedoed and sunk while Armed Merchant Cruiser. | 18,724 |
| Magnetic | 1891 | 1932 Liverpool passenger tender, 1932 sold to Alexander Towing Co, renamed Ryde. | 691 |
| Majestic (1) | 1890 | 1914 scrapped Morecambe. | 9,965 |
| Majestic (2) | 1914 | ex- Bismarck, Hamburg America Line, war reparations, 1922 renamed Majestic, 1934 taken over by Cunard-White Star, 1936 sold to Admiralty as cadet ship renamed HMS Caledonia. | 56,551 |
| Medic | 1898 | 1928 sold to N. Bugge, Tonsberg, converted to Whale Factory ship, renamed Hektoria. | 11,985 |
| Megantic | 1908 | 1933 scrapped Japan. | 14,878 |
| Mersey | 1894 | three masted sail training ship, 1908 purchased from Nourse Line, 1915 sold to Transatlantic Motorship Co., Christiania, Norway, 1916 renamed Christian Radich. | 1,820 |
| Naronic | 1892 | 1893 went missing at sea; loss of 74 lives. | 6,594 |
| Nomadic (1) | 1891 | 1903 sold to Dominion Line, 1904 renamed Cornishman. | 5,749 |
| Nomadic (2) | 1911 | 1927 Cherbourg passenger tender, 1927 transferred to France. | 1,273 |
| Oceanic (1) | 1870 | 1875-1895 chartered to Occidental & Oriental SS Co, San Francisco, 1895 scrapped London. | 3,707 |
| Oceanic (2) | 1899 | 1914 wrecked on Shetland Islands while Armed Merchant Cruiser. | 17,274 |
| Olympic | 1911 | 1934 taken over by Cunard-White Star, 1935 sold for scrap. | 45,234 |
| Persic | 1899 | 1927 scrapped Holland. | 11,973 |
| Pittsburgh | 1922 | 1925 Red Star service, 1926 renamed Pennland. | 16,322 |
| Poland | 1897 | 1922 transferred from Red Star Line, 1925 sold renamed Natale, scrapped in Italy. | 8,282 |
| Pontic | 1894 | water boat and baggage tender at Liverpool, 1919 sold to Rea Towing Co., Liverpool. | 395 |
| Regina | 1917 | 1923 White Star-Dominion Line joint service, 1929 transferred to Red Star Line, 1930 renamed Westernland. | 16,313 |
| Republic (1) | 1871 | 1889 sold to Holland America Line, renamed Maasdam. | 3,707 |
| Republic (2) | 1903 | ex- Columbus 1903 purchased from Dominion Line, 1909 sank after collision with FLORIDA off Nantucket, no lives lost. | 15,378 |
| Romanic | 1898 | ex-New England 1903 purchased from Dominion Line, 1912 sold to Allan Line, renamed Scandinavian. | 11,394 |
| Royal Standard | 1863 | 1867 sold to Liverpool owners, converted to sail. | 2,033 |
| Runic (1) | 1889 | 1895 sold to West India & Pacific SS Co, renamed Tampican. (This is the ship which later became the Norwegian Imo and collided with the Mont Blanc causing the Halifax explosion) | 4,833 |
| Runic (2) | 1900 | 1930 sold to Christian Salveson, converted to Whale Factory ship, renamed New Sevilla. | 12,482 |
| Russian | see Victorian | ||
| Sirius | 1865 | 1866 sold foreign, renamed Columbia (later became Anchor Line Scandinavia) | 620 |
| Suevic | 1900 | 1928 sold to Finnvhal A/S, Tonsberg converted to Whale Factory ship, renamed Skytteren. | 12,531 |
| Tauric | 1891 | 1903 sold to Dominion Line, 1904 renamed Welshman. | 5,728 |
| Teutonic | 1889 | 1921 scrapped Emden. | 9,984 |
| Titanic | 1912 | 1912 hit iceberg and sank on maiden voyage; loss of 1,503 lives. | 46,329 |
| Traffic (1) | 1873 | Baggage tender at Liverpool, 1896 sold to Liverpool Lighterage Co. (1955 scrapped at Tranmere, 82 years old) | 155 |
| Traffic (2) | 1911 | Cherbourg passenger tender, 1927 sold to Cie. Cherbourgeoise de Transbordement, Paris. | 675 |
| Tropic (1) | 1871 | 1873 sold to Serra y Font, Bilbao, renamed Federico. | 2,122 |
| Tropic (2) | 1896 | ex- European 1904 purchased from Leyland Line, 1923 sold to Italy, renamed Artico. | 8,262 |
| Vaderland | 1900 | 1914 transferred from Red Star Line, 1915 renamed Southland, 1917 torpedoed and sunk off Ireland; loss of 4 lives. | 11,899 |
| Vedic | 1918 | 1934 scrapped Rosyth. | 9,332 |
| Victorian | 1895 | 1903 transferred from Leyland Line, 1904 cargo service only, 1914 renamed Russian, 1916 torpedoed and sunk off Malta. | 8,825 |
| Zealandic | 1911 | 1926 sold to Aberdeen Line, renamed Mamilius. | 8,090 |
| Zeeland | 1901 | 1910 transferred from Red Star Line, 1911 returned to Red Star, 1914 White Star Line, 1915 renamed Northland, 1920 Red Star reverted to Zeeland, 1927 sold to Atlantic Transport Line renamed Minnesota. | 11,905 |
Managed Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandra Woermann | 1898 | 1919 ceded to Britain by Woermann Line, managed by White Star Line, 1920 acquired by Ellerman Wilson Line renamed Calypso (3) | 3,908 |
| Frankfurt | 1899 | 1919 ceded to Britain by North German Lloyd, managed by White Star Line, 1922 sold to Oriental Navigation Co., Hong Kong renamed Sarvistan. | 7,431 |
| Hunslet | 1898 | ex- Tannenfels (Hansa Line), 1914 taken over by German Navy but captured by Royal Navy in the Philippines and converted to Admiralty supply ship, renamed Basilan, 1915 ceded to Shipping Controller renamed Hunslet, 1917 White Star Line managers, later Union-Castle Mail SS Co. 1921 sold to Woermann Line renamed Waganda. | 5,341 |
| Ypiranga | 1908 | 1919 ceded to Britain by Hamburg America Line, managed by White Star Line, 1921 sold to Anchor Line renamed Assyria. | 8,142 |
| Zeppelin | 1915 | 1919 ceded to Britain by North German Lloyd, managed by White Star Line, 1920 sold to Orient S.N. Co. renamed Ormuz (2) | 14,167 |