RMS Baltic Archival Collection
RMS Baltic, 24,000 Tons -- The Longest Vessel in the World. From the Painting by Norman Wilkinson. White Star Line Services Brochure, 1907. GGA Image ID # 1449ef3e68
Baltic (1904) White Star Line
Built by Harland & Wolff, Ltd., Belfast, Ireland. Tonnage: 23,884. Dimensions: 709' x 75' (726' o.l.). Twin-screw, 17 knots. Quadruple expansion engines. Four masts and two funnels. Had a displacement of 40,000 tons. Largest liner built to date. Cost about $4,000,000. Launched: November 21, 1903. Maiden voyage: Liverpool-New York, June 29, 1904. Fate: Broken up by Japanese shipbreakers in 1933. Running mates: Adriatic, Cedric and Celtic. Note: These wonderful liners were known as "The Big Four."
Passenger Lists
1917-12-22 RMS Baltic Passenger List
First and Second Class Passenger List for the RMS Baltic of the White Star Line, Departing Saturday, 22 December 1917 from Liverpool to New York, Commanded by Captain W. Finch.
1921-09-10 RMS Baltic Passenger List
First Class Passenger List for the RMS Baltic of the White Star Line, Departing Saturday, 10 September 1921 from Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain F. B. Howarth.
1922-04-01 RMS Baltic Passenger List
Second Class Passenger List for the RMS Baltic of the White Star Line, Departing Saturday, 1 April 1922, from Liverpool to New York via Cobh (Queenstown), Commanded by Captain F. E. Beadnell.
1929-05-18 SS Baltic Passenger List
Tourist Third Cabin Passenger List from the RMS Baltic of the White Star Line, Departing Saturday, 18 May 1929 from Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain G. E. Warner, R.D. (Capt. RNR, Retd.).
1929-07-13 SS Baltic Passenger List
Cabin Passenger List from the RMS Baltic of the White Star Line, Departing Saturday, 13 July 1929 from Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain J. Kearney (Lt. Cdr. RNR, Retd.).
1930-06-14 SS Baltic Passenger List
Cabin Passenger List from the RMS Baltic of the White Star Line, Departing Saturday, 14 June 1930 from Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain E. Davies.
1931-07-31 SS Baltic Passenger List
Cabin Passenger List from the RMS Baltic of the White Star Line, Departing Friday, 31 July 1931 from Liverpool to Boston and New York via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain E. Davies.
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Brochures
1907 - White Star Line Fleet, History, and Services
Excellent brochure from the White Star Line covering all three classes of services at the height of the transatlantic immigrant trade. Profusely illustrated with many photographs of the ships and accommodations. Featured Ships: Arabic, Athenic, Baltic, Canopic, Cedric, Celtic, Corinthic, Cretic, Cymric, Ionic, Majestic, Oceanic, Republic, Romanic, Runic, and Teutonic.
1909-04-16 The Famous Big 4 - New York-Liverpool Service
This 8-Page White Star Line brochure on the Famous Big 4 of the New York Liverpool Service - The Adriatic, Baltic, Cedric, and Celtic, is packed with incredible photographs (Interior and exterior) some with actual passengers. Includes information on the ships and their accommodations.
1930 - White Star Line To Boston and New York in Third Class
Translated from a 1930 Dutch brochure on third-class accommodations on the "Big Four" - the Britannic, Baltic, Cedric, and Adriatic, with many interior photographs to document this class of travel in 1930.
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Sailing Schedules
Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-New York, Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-Boston, and Boston-Mediterranean Service, from 18 June 1904 to 8 October 1904. Ships Included the Arabic, Baltic, Canopic, Cedric, Celtic, Cretic, Cymric, Majestic, Oceanic, Republic, Romanic, and Teutonic. RMS Celtic Passenger List, 19 August 1904. GGA Image ID # 1e4efde338
Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-New York Service, from 6 July 1904 to 13 January 1905. Ships Included the Arabic, Baltic, Cedric, Celtic, Majestic, Oceanic, and Teutonic. RMS Celtic Passenger List, 19 August 1904. GGA Image ID # 1e4e8ea9b7. Click to View Larger Image.
White Star Line American and Colonial Services. Proposed Sailings from 22 August 1905 to 28 October 1905. Ships Include the Arabic, Baltic, Canopic, Cedric, Celtic, Cretic, Cymric, Majestic, Oceanic, Republic, Romanic, and Teutonic. MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE—The "Arabic" sails from New York on Feb. 8th, 1906, for an extended Cruise to the Mediterranean under charter to Mr. F. C. Clark and will call at Madeira, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Algiers, Malta, Athens (Phaleron Bay), Constantinople, Smyrna. Haifa, Jaffa, Alexandria, Naples, and Villefranche, returning thence via Liverpool to New York, particulars on application to any of the Company's offices. RMS Majestic Passenger List, 30 August 1905. GGA Image ID # 1dd41e606f
White Star Line Liverpool-New York Service from 18 August 1905 to 10 January 1906. Ships Include the Baltic, Cedric, Celtic, Majestic, and Teutonic. Special Trains for Passengers leave Easton Station. London, direct to Riverside Station, Liverpool, in connection with the above sailings, or Passengers may leave by the 10:00 a.m. Fast Express from St. Paneras. RMS Majestic Passenger List, 30 August 1905. GGA Image ID # 1dd49614e0. Click for Larger Image.
American and Colonial Services, Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-Boston, Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-New York, and New York-Boston-Mediterranean, from 21 August 1906 to 28 October 1906. Ships Included the Arabic, Baltic, Canopic, Cedric, Celtic, Cretic, Cymric, Majestic, Oceanic, Republic, Romanic, and Teutonic. MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE,—The "Arabic" sails from New York about February 7th, 1907, for an extended Cruise to the Mediterranean under charter to Mr. F. C. Clark, and will call at Madeira, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Algiers, Malta, Athens (Phaleron Bay), Constantinople, Smyrna, Caifa, Jaffa, Alexandria, Naples, and Villefranche, returning thence via Liverpool to New York. RMS Cymric Passenger List, 7 September 1906. GGA Image ID # 1e550c39be
Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-New York Service, from 4 May 1906 to 9 January 1907. Ships Included the Baltic, Cedric, Celtic, Majestic, Oceanic, and Teutonic. RMS Cymric Passenger List, 7 September 1906. GGA Image ID # 1e55bda7dd. Click to View Larger Image.
Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-New York Service, from 1 May 1907 to 6 December 1907. Ships Included the Adriatic, Arabic, Baltic, Cedric, Celtic, Majestic, Oceanic, and Teutonic. RMS Republic Passenger List, 14 August 1907. GGA Image ID # 1e58351d4c
Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-New York Service, from 7 May 1909 to 15 January 1910. Ships Included the Arabic, Baltic, Cedric, and Celtic. RMS Arabic Passenger List, 11 June 1909. GGA Image ID # 1e4b0b0004
Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-New York Service, from 18 June 1910 to 14 January 1911. Ships Included the Arabic, Baltic, Cedric, and Celtic. RMS Cymric Passenger List, 26 July 1910. GGA Image ID # 1e5638c0c4
Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-New York Service, from 9 October 1913 to 9 July 1914. Ships Included the Adriatic, Baltic, Cedric, Celtic, Cymric, Laurentic, and Megantic. SS Cretic Passenger List, 22 November 1913. GGA Image ID # 1e57d1734e
White Star Line Proposed Sailings, Liverpool-Cobh (Queenstown)-New York Service from 5 August 1922 to 30 December 1922. Ships Include the Adriatic, Baltic, Cedric, and Celtic. RMS Majestic Passenger List, 6 September 1922. GGA Image ID # 1dd4bae80b
Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-Cobh (Queenstown)-New York, from 18 August 1923 to 12 January 1924. Ships Included the Adriatic, Baltic, Cedric, and Celtic. RMS Homeric Passenger List, 5 September 1923. GGA Image ID # 1f0af1f041
Sailing Schedule, Liverpool-Boston-New York, Liverpool-Boston-Philadelphia, Bremen-Southampton-Cherbourg-Halifax-New York, Hamburg-New York, from 24 August 1923 to 22 December 1923. Ships Included the Baltic, Canopic, Celtic, Haverford, and Pittsburgh. RMS Homeric Passenger List, 5 September 1923. GGA Image ID # 1f0b4ef849
Sailing Schedule, White Star Line, Liverpool-New York via Queenstown (Cobh), from 2 May 1925 to 14 November 1925. Ships Included the Adriatic, Baltic, Cedric, and Celtic. RMS Celtic Passenger List, 30 May 1925. GGA Image ID # 1e52582b7b
Sailing Schedule, White Star Line, Liverpool-Boston-New York via Queenstown (Cobh), from 2 May 1925 to 15 November 1925. Ships Included the Baltic, Canopic, Cedric, and Celtic. RMS Celtic Passenger List, 30 May 1925. GGA Image ID # 1e5290262e
Proposed Sailings, White Star Line, Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-New York, from 3 July 1926 to 27 November 1926. Ships Included the Adriatic, Baltic, Cedric, and Celtic. RMS Belgenland Passenger List, 26 June 1926. GGA Image ID # 1df2408a0a
Sailing Schedule, Southampton-Cherbourg-New York and Liverpool-New York, from 1 August 1928 to 10 November 1928. Ships Included the Adriatic, Baltic, Cedric, Celtic, Homeric, Majestic, and Olympic. SS Lapland Passenger List, 31 August 1928. GGA Image ID # 1ebe71055b
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Other Ephemera
White Star Line SS Baltic Guide to Principal Public Rooms. GGA Image ID # 1daf7ab3ff
Guide to RMS Baltic
Twin Screw, 23,884 Tons, Length: 726 Feet, Breadth: 76 Feet
Principal Public Rooms
| DECK A (Boat Deck) | LOUNGE | Forward |
|---|---|---|
| SMOKING ROOM | Amidships | |
| VERANDAH CAFÉ | Aft | |
| PROMENADE | ||
| DECK B (Upper Promenade Deck) | DRAWING ROOM | Forward |
| BARBER SHOP | Aft | |
| PROMENADE | ||
| DECK C (Promenade Deck) | DOCTOR | Forward |
| ENQUIRY and PURSER'S OFFICE | Forward | |
| PROMENADE | ||
| DECK D (Saloon Deck) | DINING SALOON | Forward |
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Photographs
First Class Smoking Room on the Baltic. White Star Line Famous Big 4, 16 April 1909. GGA Image ID # 11ab0cf97c
First Class Drawing Room on the Baltic. Harmony and Restful Seclusion Make This a Delightful Apartment in Which to Pass Quiet Hours with a Book or Friend. White Star Line Famous Big 4, 16 April 1909. GGA Image ID # 11ab460ebd
The Renowned "Big Four": MV Britannic, RMS Baltic, RMS Cedric, and RMS Adriatic -- These Vessels Represent a Combined Tonnage of Approximately 97,000. White Star Line To Boston and New York in the Third Class - 1930 Brochure. GGA Image ID # 11eb3e77b0
Third Class Smoking Room on the RMS Baltic. White Star Line To Boston and New York in the Third Class - 1930 Brochure. GGA Image ID # 11ec650317
Third Class Barber Shop on the RMS Baltic. White Star Line To Boston and New York in the Third Class - 1930 Brochure. GGA Image ID # 11ec79f07f
Third Class Staterooms (Clockwise from Top Left): MV Britannic Room with 2 Beds; RMS Baltic Room with 3 Beds; RMS Cedric Room with 4 Beds; And RMS Adriatic Room with 4 Beds. White Star Line To Boston and New York in the Third Class - 1930 Brochure. GGA Image ID # 11ecd8e57d
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Books
The First Great Ocean Liners in Photographs - 1983
Sumptuous volume recalls the glorious early years of elegant transatlantic travel. Over 190 historic photographs depict exterior and interior views of 101 great ocean liners, including the Virginian, Imperator, Vaterland, Bismarck, Lusitania, Mauretania, Balmoral Castle, Titanic, Olympic, Aquitania and dozens more. Full captions.
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Advertisements
Mediterranean Cruises to Italy and Egypt in the Winter of 1923-1924 by the White Star Line SS Adriatic and Red Star Line SS Lapland. Frank C. Clark Tours to the Mediterranean on the White Star Line SS Baltic. Thomas Cook & Son Tours to the Mediterranean on the Red Star Line Belgenland. RMS Homeric Passenger List, 5 September 1923. GGA Image ID # 1f09d5deba
The New White Star Liner Baltic - 1904
The New Transatlantic Steamship Baltic, The Largest Vessel Afloat. Length, 725 feet, 9 inches. Beam, 75 feet. Maximum displacement, 40,000 tons. Scientific American, 16 July 1904. GGA Image ID # 13e96fcf5d
The success of the "Oceanic" showed that the most remunerative type of craft for the transatlantic traffic is the vessel of a medium speed, maintained under all varying conditions, but of a tremendous tonnage.
Although speed may be an essential desideratum from one point of view, such a qualification is, in reality, only appealing to a limited quota of passengers, the bulk of travelers preferring greater comfort and steadiness of the vessel, especially in rough weather.
Each of the two ships built after the Oceanic has marked an increase in size and tonnage upon its predecessor.
The latest liner, the Baltic, surpasses in size anything that has thus far been attempted, though it is by no means the finite, for Messrs. Harland & Wolff have declared their readiness to build a vessel of 50,000 tons. The realization of such a ship is dependent upon the capacity of a dock to accommodate it.
The length of the Baltic overall is 725 feet 9 inches. This is an increase upon the length of the "Celtic" and "Cedric" of 25 feet. The beam is the same, being 75 feet; the depth, 49 feet.
The gross tonnage is 23,000 tons, an increase of about 3,000 tons. The cargo capacity is about 28,000 tong, and the total displacement at the load draft approximates 40,000 tons.
Although the two sister ships are near to recent construction, yet so rapid is the progress of development in shipbuilding design and structure that this latest vessel contains several exciting improvements, possible of embodiment owing to the immense size of the boat.
The same standard of luxury and comfort in the accommodation and appointments for the convenience of the passengers so characteristic in the previous ships is maintained, but the accommodation is more spacious. The total complement of passengers is 3,000 passengers and a crew of about 350.
The general arrangement of the ship is similar to the other two vessels of this type—a continuous shade deck running fore and aft, with three tiers of deckhouses and two promenade decks above the main deckhouse level.
On the upper promenade deck is the first-class smoking room and library, and the two houses below contain the deck staterooms.
All the first-class accommodation is situated amidships. One of the most notable features in the Baltic is the grand dining saloon located on the upper deck. It extends the full width of the ship, 75 feet, is exceptionally lofty and airy, and has seating accommodation for 350 people. It has a domed skylight, and the decorations are most artistically and effectively carried out.
Immediately abaft the first-class is the second-class accommodation, together with a comfortable smoke-room and library.
The third-class passengers are provided for abaft the second-class, and to a limited extent at the fore-end of the vessel. A great feature in this accommodation is a large number of staterooms, two, three, and four-berth, and the roomy and comfortable dining rooms, fitted with tables and revolving chairs.
Maximum safety is secured by the exceptional strength and structure of the vessel, together with the elaborate system of watertight compartments. One significant safety device which is the first instance of its application to a mercantile vessel is the electrical indicator, which is utilized in the British navy, for the prevention of collisions.
This device is placed on the bridge. It indicates the exact position of any other vessel entering its magnetic zone.
There is a dial carrying a needle on its face, similar to a compass. Directly the other vessel enters the magnetic zone, the radius of which in this instance is five miles, the needle revolves and points directly toward it, thereby indicating its precise location.
This apparatus is highly sensitive, and even the screw revolutions of the approaching vessel are registered by the wave vibrations.
In this manner, the officer on the bridge can estimate the exact time he is distant from the other vessel, and act accordingly to clear it. With this alert device, another ship can't creep up even in foggy weather or under cover of darkness without the officer being aware of its approach.
View of the Library on the White Star Line Baltic - 1904. Scientific American, 16 July 1904. GGA Image ID # 13e9967686
View of the Four Decks of the White Star Line Steamship Baltic - 1904. Scientific American, 16 July 1904. GGA Image ID # 13ea613302
Other essential devices that tend to ensure greater safety are the electrical lead and log. When in operation, the speed of the ship and the depth of water are indicated at regular intervals of ten seconds.
The cooking and refrigerators are also electrically operated, which provide higher cleanliness and coolness are obtained. The odors of the cooking galley are withdrawn, employing electric fans and carried through pipes and exhausted into the open air at the stern of the vessel.
The machines for the refrigerating chambers are worked upon the C O, principle. The whole of this plant is electrically operated, thereby obtaining a healthy economy in ice storage, as the vessel will be able to leave port with a smaller supply of ice than is feasible upon other vessels fitted with existing systems.
The private staterooms are equipped with electric chafing dishes, warming pans, and other utensils, which the passengers can immediately use whenever desired, an innovation that will doubtless be highly appreciated.
The vessel is not speedy. In the case of the "Oceanic," a speed of 20 knots can be maintained, but in the subsequent vessels, this was reduced to about 16 1/2 knots. The "Baltic" will approximate the same speed, with a vast reserve of power, to enable this rate of traveling to be maintained even under adverse conditions.
The "Baltic" is fitted with engines of Harland & Wolff's quadruple-expansion type, developing about 13,000 I. H. P. The engines are arranged on the balance principle, which practically does away with all vibration. The twin engines and twin screws afford another element of safety to the ship and passengers, and the possibility of danger is reduced to a minimum.
The maiden trip of the "Baltic" was made without incident. Her journey occupied 7 days, 13 hours, and 37 minutes. She left Liverpool at 5 P. M. on June 29, and by 8:21 had passed Rock Light on her way to Queenstown. Her daily runs were: July 1, 312 knots; July 2, 395 knots; July 3, 403 knots; July 4, 417 knots; July 5, 387 knots; July 6, 407 knots; July 7, 414 knots.
The engines ran from seventy-eight to eighty revolutions a minute, while the forty-eight furnaces consumed only 235 tons of coal a day. The "Baltic's" best day's run was on July 4, when 417 knots were logged, and she maintained an average hourly speed of seventeen knots. Her average for the trip was 16.1 knots an hour. Her engine and fireroom force is comparatively small—fourteen engineers, fifteen oilers, thirty-six firemen, twenty-six coal passers, two store-keepers, two stewards, and one winchman making up the three watches.
"English Correspondent," "The New White Star Line 'Baltic' -- The Largest Vessel in the World," in the Scientific American, Vol. XCI, No. 3, New York, 16 July 1904, p. 44+
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