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RMS Celtic (1901)
Encyclopedia
RMS Celtic was an ocean liner
owned by the White Star Line
. The first ship larger than the in gross tonnage
, Celtic was the first of a quartet of ships over 20,000 tons, dubbed The Big Four
.
Celtic was launched on 4 April 1901 from the Harland and Wolff
shipyards in Belfast
, and set off on her maiden voyage from Liverpool
to New York
on 26 July.
At the beginning of the First World War
, Celtic was converted into an armed merchant cruiser however, since the vessel had a high fuel consumption it was decided to convert her into a troop ship in January 1916, and used to carry soldiers to Egypt
. She was put back on the transatlantic route in March.
In 1917, Celtic struck a mine
off the Isle of Man
. Seventeen people on board were killed, but the Celtic survived. A number of passengers were rescued by the London and North Western Railway
ship Slieve Bawn
. Celtic was towed to Peel Bay and repaired in Belfast
. In March 1918, U-Boat torpedoed Celtic in the Irish Sea
. Six people on board were killed, but again Celtic remained afloat, eventually the damaged vessel was towed to Liverpool and repaired again.
Early on 10 December 1928 Celtic became stranded on the Cow and Calf rocks, adjacent to Roches Point as she approached Cobh
with more than 200 passengers aboard. The Ballycotton
Lifeboat T.P.Hearne 2, along with tugs, a destroyer and local life-saving teams, arrived. Tenders
from Cobh disembarked the passengers. Seven thousand tons of cargo were scattered. This time the ship could not be moved or salvaged, and was abandoned to the insurance company who declared the ship to be a total loss. Celtic was completely dismantled for scrap by 1933. The Celtic features in the painting Sports on the Celtic by the British artist William Nicholson.
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
owned by the White Star Line
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...
. The first ship larger than the in gross tonnage
Tonnage
Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume...
, Celtic was the first of a quartet of ships over 20,000 tons, dubbed 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:...
.
Celtic was launched on 4 April 1901 from the Harland and Wolff
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....
shipyards in 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...
, and set off on her maiden voyage from 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...
to 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...
on 26 July.
At the beginning of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Celtic was converted into an armed merchant cruiser however, since the vessel had a high fuel consumption it was decided to convert her into a troop ship in January 1916, and used to carry soldiers 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...
. She was put back on the transatlantic route in March.
In 1917, Celtic struck a mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
off the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. Seventeen people on board were killed, but the Celtic survived. A number of passengers were rescued by the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
ship Slieve Bawn
TSS Slieve Bawn (1904)
TSS Slieve Bawn was a twin screw steamer passenger and cargo vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1904 to 1923, and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from 1923 to 1935.-History:...
. Celtic was towed to Peel Bay and repaired in 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...
. In March 1918, U-Boat torpedoed Celtic in the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
. Six people on board were killed, but again Celtic remained afloat, eventually the damaged vessel was towed to Liverpool and repaired again.
Early on 10 December 1928 Celtic became stranded on the Cow and Calf rocks, adjacent to Roches Point as she approached 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...
with more than 200 passengers aboard. The Ballycotton
Ballycotton
Ballycotton is a village in County Cork, Ireland, situated about 25 miles east of Cork city. It is a famous fishing village and has given its name to the folk band Ballycotton. The village is set on a rocky-ledge overlooking Ballycotton Bay and its sandy beach that stretches for about...
Lifeboat T.P.Hearne 2, along with tugs, a destroyer and local life-saving teams, arrived. Tenders
Ship's tender
A ship's tender, usually referred to as a tender, is a boat, or a larger ship used to service a ship, generally by transporting people and/or supplies to and from shore or another ship...
from Cobh disembarked the passengers. Seven thousand tons of cargo were scattered. This time the ship could not be moved or salvaged, and was abandoned to the insurance company who declared the ship to be a total loss. Celtic was completely dismantled for scrap by 1933. The Celtic features in the painting Sports on the Celtic by the British artist William Nicholson.