The Largest Ship in the World.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 205, 5 September 1901, Page 1

The Largest Ship in the World.

A MAGNIFICENT VESSEL. Tke steamer Celtic, which has just bcon launched by the propraetors of the White Star line of steamships—to which lino the Now Zealand trading favorites Gothic and lonic belong—is by far tho largest vessel in the world, and is described as a lloating city. The London correspondent of the New Zealand Herald writes as follows with regard to the official send-off of the new giant steamship on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic :

Perhaps it would bo more accurate to

term tho function a “ private view,” but as there was a “ public view ” attended by thousands of Liverpool people on Wednesday, and as Thursday’s function had a gorgeous banquet as' its central feature, I have preferred to regard it in tho more festive light of a first “ sendoff.” It was largely attended by representatives of the press, and of the shipping and mercantile interests, who wore conveyed to the spot freo of cost—f.o.b., in fact, I may say—by the hospitablo owners, and who were shown over the monster ship by Mr James Ismay, one of tho partners, and by Mr Livesey, ono of the principal members of tho firm’s oflieial staff. To finish with this phase of affairs, I may add that the guests wero most handsomely entertained, tho banquot, in the splendid saloon of tho steamer, being perfect in all respects. It is not easy to grasp the full immensity of the Celtic, which, may I bo permitted to explain, is properly pronounced 11 Keltic,” and not “ Seltic.” Her dimensions are so vast and her symmetry is so complete that until somo other vessel passes her by one fails to recognise how huge she really is. I went round in a steamer before going on board, and had to confess that I could not “ take her in.” But later, viewing her from the Liverpool landing stage, as a big “ Dominion ” steamer and then a large Allan liner were close at hand, the Celtic seemed suddenly to expand into the ocean mammoth she really is. Later still I had tho opportunity of comparing her with the Majestic when the latter—the 10,000 tons wonder of hut a few years gone by—looked relatively a mere “ cockle-shell,” as would, let us say, the Rotomahaua beside the Gothic.

Of course the Celtic is by far the largost vessel in the world —the largost vessel ever built —larger even than the Great Eastern monstrosity of former days, and nearly 4000 tons larger than the Oceanic, at which, “ all the world wondered ” last year. Her measurement is no les than 20,904 tons, her length 700 ft, beam 7oft, depth 49ft. She has accommodation for 350 first-class passengers and 160 secondclass, while in the third-class she carries the amazing number of 2350 persons. Her total crew musters 400, including no fewer than 200 stewards.

These figures, enormous as they are, can give but a vague and indefinite idea of the immensity of this “ floating city,” as the Celtic has been justly termed. Indeed, this is no mere poetical phrase, for when she has all her crew and passengers aboard, her population will be actually larger than that of either Wells or Ely, two English full-blown cities. But the salient and unique feature about the Coltio is the extraordinary degree of comfort which she provides for her travellers of all classes. I have neithor time nor spaeo to enter into minute details, and these, if given, might be dry. But I have seen all the finest steamers that have visited New Zealand, and I say, thus spealtmg with full knowledge, that if you take all their best points and improve these relatively' by 50 per cent., quite apart from the question of proportionate size, you will have only a faint notion of what the Celtic can give to her lucky voyagers. I need not dwell on her spacious saloons, libraries, smoking-room, promenade decks, etc.; these can, perhaps, be imagined, and the decorations are not at all gaudy or unduly lavish. But the universal air of comfort is quite remarkable. The splendid bedrooms—staterooms, truly—allotted to the firstclass passengers are such as have never before been dreamed of on board ocean steamships, while the wealth of conveniences and comforts and appliances provided in each cabin must be seen to be appreciated. Some of the cabins are arranged in suites of several for families, each suite having its own bathroom and sittingroom. There are large numbers of single-berth bedrooms, which greatly dwarf in dimensions and convenience those to be found in numerous London fiats.

“As for the third-class accommodation, I have simply never seen anything like it before. It far transcends that given to first-class voyagers by the erackest steamers of the last generation. What with cosy enclosed sleeping cabins, spacious and comfortable saloons, revolving chairs, pianos, electric lights, libraries, smokerooms, etc., the humblo third-classer bound to or from America must surely

fancy when he enters these comfortable quarters that he has gone astray and wandered into the first-class by mistake.

Altogether the Celtic represents quite a new departure in ocean liners. Extreme speed is not aimed at. The Celtic can do her 17 or 18 knots when required, but is not built for record-breaking. There is no idea on her owner’s part of beating the Deutschland. Their idea is to give absolute punctuality with reasonably fast speed, so as to ensure to the traveller who goes on board one Friday that he will certainly be landed at New York from Liverpool, .or vice versa, on the Friday following; and that is what moat travellers will appreciate.