RMS Cedric
Encyclopedia
RMS Cedric was laid down in 1902 at the shipyard of Harland and Wolff
, Belfast
. RMS Cedric was the second of White Star
's series known as the "Big Four
", the other three being , and . Celtic was the first ship to exceed Brunel's
in overall tonnage, which was quite an accomplishment, considering Brunel's giant ship held the size record for almost 40 years. Except for the Adriatic all of these in turn, when built, would be the largest ship in the world for a short time. RMS Cedric was a 21,035-gross ton ship, 700 ft (213.4 m) long and 75 foot abeam, with two funnels, four masts, two propellers and a service speed of 16 kn (19.5 mph; 31.4 km/h). There was accommodation for 365 First, 160 Second and 2352 Third Class passengers. She was launched on 21 August 1902, and RMS Cedric commenced her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York on 11 February 1903. This was the only route on which she was ever used, although Cedric was also sometimes used for winter cruises to the Mediterranean
.
and the ship's departure was delayed until the arrived with survivors, including crew members not required for the Court of Enquiry, who wished to travel back to Liverpool
. However, Cedric had to sail without any of Titanics survivors or crew due to their mandated appearances for testimony at the U.S. Inquiry. Her last voyage on the Liverpool
-New York
service started on 21 October 1914 after which she was she was requisitioned for war service, and she was then converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser. Cedric was decommissioned in 1916, and then she was converted into a troopship for operation initially to Egypt
and then to the U.S. In April 1917, her operation came under the auspices of the Liner Requisition Scheme. On 29 January 1918, Cedric collided with and sank the Canadian Pacific ship Montreal off Morecambe Bay. Montreal was taken in tow, but she sank the next day 14 mi (12.2 nmi; 22.5 km) from the Mersey Bar lightship
. Cedric was returned to her owner in September 1919 and refitted by Harland & Wolff. She was refitted to accommodate 347 First, 250 Second and 1000 Third Class passengers. She resumed Liverpool
–New York
voyages. On 30 September 1923, Cedric collided with the of the Cunard Line
in Queenstown (Cobh
) harbour during dense fog
. Neither vessel was seriously damaged. On 23 October 1926, she was again altered to Cabin, Tourist and Third Class. Her last Liverpool–New York sailing commenced on 5 September 1931 and she was sold later the same year, for £22,150 to Thos. W. Ward and scrapped at Inverkeithing in 1932.
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. RMS Cedric was the second of White Star
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
's series known as the "Big Four
Big Four (White Star Line)
The Big Four were a quartet of 20,000 tons ocean liners built by Harland & Wolff shipyard for the White Star Line in the early 20th century, completed in 1906: -Origin:...
", the other three being , and . Celtic was the first ship to exceed Brunel's
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
in overall tonnage, which was quite an accomplishment, considering Brunel's giant ship held the size record for almost 40 years. Except for the Adriatic all of these in turn, when built, would be the largest ship in the world for a short time. RMS Cedric was a 21,035-gross ton ship, 700 ft (213.4 m) long and 75 foot abeam, with two funnels, four masts, two propellers and a service speed of 16 kn (19.5 mph; 31.4 km/h). There was accommodation for 365 First, 160 Second and 2352 Third Class passengers. She was launched on 21 August 1902, and RMS Cedric commenced her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York on 11 February 1903. This was the only route on which she was ever used, although Cedric was also sometimes used for winter cruises to the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
.
Trans-Atlantic service
For the next 11 years the ship plied the Atlantic crossing with out any major incident. When the sank in April 1912, Cedric was in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and the ship's departure was delayed until the arrived with survivors, including crew members not required for the Court of Enquiry, who wished to travel back to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. However, Cedric had to sail without any of Titanics survivors or crew due to their mandated appearances for testimony at the U.S. Inquiry. Her last voyage on the Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
-New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
service started on 21 October 1914 after which she was she was requisitioned for war service, and she was then converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser. Cedric was decommissioned in 1916, and then she was converted into a troopship for operation initially to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and then to the U.S. In April 1917, her operation came under the auspices of the Liner Requisition Scheme. On 29 January 1918, Cedric collided with and sank the Canadian Pacific ship Montreal off Morecambe Bay. Montreal was taken in tow, but she sank the next day 14 mi (12.2 nmi; 22.5 km) from the Mersey Bar lightship
Lightship
Lightship may refer to:* Lightvessel, a permanently moored ship that has light beacons mounted as navigational aids* Light displacement, a displacement figure that measures a ship complete in all respects, but without consumables, stores, cargo, crew, and effects*Lightship, a type of blimp operated...
. Cedric was returned to her owner in September 1919 and refitted by Harland & Wolff. She was refitted to accommodate 347 First, 250 Second and 1000 Third Class passengers. She resumed Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
–New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
voyages. On 30 September 1923, Cedric collided with the of the Cunard Line
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
in Queenstown (Cobh
Cobh
Cobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
) harbour during dense fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
. Neither vessel was seriously damaged. On 23 October 1926, she was again altered to Cabin, Tourist and Third Class. Her last Liverpool–New York sailing commenced on 5 September 1931 and she was sold later the same year, for £22,150 to Thos. W. Ward and scrapped at Inverkeithing in 1932.