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MV OCEANIC PAGE!
M.V. OCEANIC
WHITE STAR MOMENTS
INFORMATION & GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Builder: Harland and Wolff, Belfast
Laid down: 28 June 1928
Yard number: 844
Tonnage: 85,000 (estimated)
Length:1,000 ft between perpendiculars
1,050-80ft overall (estimated)
Beam: 120 ft
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Draught: 38 ft Speed: 30 knots (estimated)
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THE ULTIMATE WHITE STAR LINER
WHITE STAR MOMENTS
WHITE STAR MOMENTS
WHITE STAR MOMENTS
Plans for a 1,000 feet long White Star Liner had begun as far back as 1880 with Sir Edward Harland, and at the end of the 1920s this fifty-year-old dream was closer than ever to becoming a reality. On June 18th 1928, the order for the construction of the first vessel to exceed 1,000 feet in length was placed. This new vessel, to be named Oceanic, was to be built by Harland and Wolff at Belfast for the White Star Line. At an estimated 1,050 feet of overall length, she would have been the largest vessel in the world, and according to press statements, also "... to be furnished in the most luxurious manner" with "interior decoration[s] [marking] a decided departure from [what] has always been adopted for White Star ships heretofore." Her powerful diesel engines, planned to be able to produce 275,000 i.h.p. (200,000 s.h.p), were not only ahead of their time, but could also have enabled her to win the blue riband.
HISTORY
In August 1926, an announcement indicated that a giant 25-knot liner to replace the Homeric (below), whose service speed was inadequate, was under consideration by the White Star Line. The press statement suggested that the new vessel would embody the best features of the both the Majestic and the Olympic, and additionally was expected to bear a 'family resemblance' to the latter vessel. The order was placed on June 18, 1928, and construction began ten days later on June 28. After the keel plates were laid, and a few frames assembled, the project was put on hold just over a year later, in September of 1929.The entire work was coated with oil for protection against natural elements, and after a serious attempt to start the construction over again, the project was quietly abandoned.
RMS Homeric (Picture Source: Liners of the World)
GROUNDBREAKING DESIGN
In the 1950s, Cuthbert Coulson Pounder, Director and Chief Technical Engineer of H&W after WWII, released detailed information about the great project that was the Oceanic.
Pounder said that the ship “would have had 47 six-cylinder, exhaust turbo-charged, four-stroke single-acting diesel engines producing a total of 275,000 i.h.p. and coupled in pairs to electric generators.
The total weight of the installation would have been some 17,000 tons, equal to the displacement tonnage of a smaller liner of the day!”
Dr. Denis Rebbeck, a director at Harland & Wolff, delivered a paper read before Section G of the British Association on Friday, September 5th 1952. This paper gave great detail about the history of the shipyard, and contained additional facts about the Oceanic, which he said "was to have nailed the flag of the oil engine for ships of the highest power to the top of the mast". He wrote that “The Musgrave Shipyard will also be long remembered by the people of Belfast as the yard where the keel of a 1000-ft. Diesel-electric passenger liner was laid down for the White Star Line in the late 1920’s …” and “the total power of the ship was designed to be 200,000 shaft horse-power on four screws, and there were to be 47 six-cylinder super-charged four-stroke Diesel engines, coupled in pairs.” He also said that "the fact that such a bold design was ever contemplated suffices to prove how far Harland and Wolff had by then progressed along the path of diesel engine development for marine propulsion."
This same paper shows a profile and engine arrangement of the Oceanic (below). Drawn in 1927, the profile is still used today as the basis for all renditions of the ship.
The concept of the Oceanic began as early as June of 1923, when the White Star Line had asked Harland and Wolff to begin design work for a new vessel, meant to replace the Homeric.
Preliminary drawings consisted of various hull forms and profiles. However, due to new restrictions placed on immigration, Harold Sanderson, the Chairman of the Board of the International Mercantile Marine Company, predicted that no new large liners would be built.
By 1926, with the adoption and acceptance of tourist class, H&W's designers began again to submit proposals for a new large White Star Liner.
A number of general arrangement plans for the Oceanic were drawn between 1926 and 1930. One of which was submitted on January 28th 1926. This set shows a four-funneled ocean liner with a cruiser stern that would bear more than a 'family resemblance' to the Olympic. With a length of 904 feet, a beam of 96 feet and a height 99 feet, this ship would sported great resemblance to the Olympic, fitted with a grand staircase modeled after the ones that became a trademark of the earlier White Star giants. Her passenger compliment would have been a total of 2,412 with the "arrangement of the staterooms...generally similar to that on the Olympic." Another set, drawn later the same year, shows a 935 feet-long and 100 feet-wide ocean liner with three squat funnels, roughly the same size as the German Bremen and Europa.
Rendering of the January 1926 plans Drawn by Thomas Balogh (https://www.facebook.com/150liners/)".
Rendering of the Late 1926 plans Drawn by Thomas Balogh (https://www.facebook.com/150liners/)".
The final set shows a 1,000 feet long (between perpendiculars) and 120 feet wide ocean liner with three funnels and a cruiser stern.
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The very basic profile and engine arrangement of the Oceanic shown earlier is the only part of the final plans currently available. Several renderings were made using the engine arrangement profile as a basis.
Most renderings are fairly similar and appear to match the profile well.
Richard Edward's scratch built model (1/600 scale)
©R. Edwards, 2011
Captain Ishewood's rendering
The "Super-Oceanic"
The Oceanic made several newspaper headlines from her announcement in 1928 to 1930.
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In 1928, Princess Mary was photographed and filmed as she visited Oceanic's keel. This is the only known footage of the Oceanic.
The same year, the Prince of Wales took part in the manufacture of one of the keel plates of the liner during his visit to the Motherwell steelworks.
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In August of 1929, it was reported by the New York Times that "White Star's new vessel [had] been entirely redesigned." This was supposedly as a response to Bremen's remarkable performance during her maiden voyage one month earlier.
The report also adds that this new design was to be larger than the previous as the "decision to increase the length of the Oceanic is in conformity with the view of naval architects that length is an essential factor when the speed of great liners is of paramount importance."
Princess Mary Visits the keel of the Oceanic in Oct. 1928
The New York Times August 18th, 1929
Another Times article released the following week, took special note of Bremen's bulbous bow,
which offered less resistance to water, as well as her streamlined funnels and superstructure,
which gave added velocity.
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In January of the following year, an article on the Saturday Evening post revealed details about
Oceanic's new design. The report stated that "eighty feet were added" to the 1,000-foot figure, and while other changes were kept secret, "in her wind and water resistance features she will strongly resemble Bremen." Additionally, "whether turbo electric..or propelled by electricity
produced by internal-combustion engines...the Oceanic will go in for high speed in an attempt to
regain the blue ribbon of the Atlantic for Britain."
Eric Okanume's Rendering of the Super Oceanic.
© E. Okanume, S. Finnegan, 2023
SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE ATLANTIC
Had the Oceanic been completed, and White Star never merged with Cunard, Oceanic would have rivalled Normandie and Queen Mary on the North Atlantic service. All three ships had fairly similar proportions and overall design. Below is a comparison of the general characteristics of the three along with rivals SS Bremen and SS Europa.
French Line - CGT
Cunard-White Star Line
RMMV Oceanic (III) by Eric Okanume
French Line - CGT
Length:
Oceanic
​Normandie
Queen Mary
Bremen
Europa
Beam:
Oceanic
Normandie
Queen Mary
Bremen
Europa
Draught:
Oceanic
Normandie
Queen Mary
Bremen
Europa
1,050 ft​
1,029 ft
1,019.4 ft
938.6 ft
936.7 ft
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120 ft
117.9 ft
118 ft
101.9 ft
101.7 ft
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38 ft
37 ft
39 ft
33.89 ft
33.1 ft
​Installed power:
Oceanic
Normandie
Queen Mary
Bremen
Europa
​Diesel-electric drive; 47 six-cylinder, exhaust turbo-charged, four-stroke, single-acting diesel generators. 200,000 shp (275,000 ihp) on four screws.
Turbo-electric powered. 160,000 shp on four screws.
4 Parsons single-reduction geared steam turbines. 160,000 shp on four screws.
Four sets of geared steam turbines generating 135,000 shp on four screws.
Four steam turbines generating 105,000 shp on four screws.
** Most sources contemporary sources point to the turbo-electric diesel proposal being the favored power plant for Oceanic.
ALTERNATIVE PROPULSION
A recently discovered article reveals an alternate engine configuration that was being considered by the White Star Line at the time. The article reveals that this proposal consisted of an electric-driven ship powered by steam. The article reads: "When the White Star line puts its first big post-war liner into service, it will not only be the biggest ship ever built-1,050 feet in length and displacing 60,000 tons-but also the biggest electric-driven ship. This type of drive, pioneered by the American navy in battleships some years ago, has been applied to the 17,000-ton liner "California" and the "Virginia," now building, both under the American flag, and in the new 19,000-ton P.&O. liner "Viceroy of India," recently launched in England. The White Star ship, on which work has been started at Belfast, will have four boiler rooms, the after most of which is shown in the foreground of the artist's drawing. Oil fuel, with automatic firing, will be used. High-pressure water-tube boilers will be fitted with forced draft of preheated combustion air. In the main engine room, seen beyond the boiler room, the steam will drive turbo-generators at about 3,000 revolutions per minute to generate the electricity for the driving motors, directly connected to the propeller shafts and revolving at about 100 revolutions per minute. The electric drive has many advantages,including ease in maneuvering, quickness of
reversing power, and the fact that the propellers cannot race when thrown clear in heavy seas."
The article highlights the conflict over propulsion of the vessel and that other methods were being strongly considered. It is understood, however, that a final decision was never definitively reached.
THE DANIEL ADAMSON TUGBOAT and THE QUEEN ELIZABETH
Fittings allegedly intended for the Oceanic have been discovered on the tugboat Daniel Adamson. It has been claimed that after the White Star/Cunard merger, fitting out materials intended for the Oceanic were moved from storage at Harland and Wolff to John Brown's, Clydebank for their work on the Queen Elizabeth. The tugboat Daniel Adamson, which was being renovated at the time, supposedly received some of the art-deco inspired materials intended for the Oceanic. Although the name "Oceanic" was found on the back of a section in the main saloon, no official documentation has surfaced indicating that any fitting out materials intended for the Oceanic were installed on the Daniel Adamson or the Queen Elizabeth.
Original proposal intended for the Daniel Adamson.
"Oceanic" written on the back of a section found in Daniel Adamson's main saloon.
Cunard-White Star Line
Original proposal intended for the Daniel Adamson.
CHRONOLOGICAL TIMELINE
Below is a chronological timeline of events and announcements related to the Oceanic.
*All information is gathered from the few available books and archives about or that mention Oceanic. Sources are cited at the very bottom of the page.
Design of New Replacement for the Homeric is requested by the White Star Line.
Harland and Wolff submits proposal.
Harland and Wolff submits proposal.
P.A.S. Franklin states a replacement vessel for the Homeric will be built.
Harland and Wolff submits proposal.
The New York Times reports 60,000-ton White Star Liner to be in the New York Service.
The New York Times reports Harland and Wolff has started work on a 1,500 ft long dock for the Oceanic.
Construction order is placed.
Yard number 844 is laid down at Harland & Wolff.
The Prince of Wales takes part in the manufacture of one of Oceanic's keel
plates during his visit to the Motherwell steelworks.
Princess Mary visits Oceanic's keel.
The New York times reports Kylsant plans on placing capt. William Marshall of the Majestic as captain of the Oceanic.
The New York times reports Oceanic is likely to be larger than new 1,000 ft Cunard Liner (Queen Mary).
The New York Times reports White Star scrapped Oceanic's design for a bigger ship seeking to wrestle Bremen's speed record.
The New York Times reports White Star claims Oceanic will be finished.
The New York Times reports White Star ceased work on the Oceanic because of Bremen's success.
The New York Times reports that if work on Oceanic is resumed, it will use an entirely new set of plans calling for a larger ship.
The New York Times reports Kylsant differed work on Oceanic emphasizing the need to study her engines.
JUNE 1923
JANUARY 28, 1926
MARCH 9, 1926
AUGUST 3, 1926
1927
SEPTEMBER 25, 1927
MAY 24, 1928
JUNE 18, 1928
JUNE 28, 1928
1928
October 15, 1928
OCTOBER 28, 1928
JULY 23, 1929
AUGUST 14, 1929
SEPTEMBER 01, 1929
SEPTEMBER 26, 1929
FEBRUARY 26, 1930
MAY 17, 1930
Several White Star Line advertisements were created in the late 1920s and early 1930s featuring what looks to be the Oceanic.
The Oceanic is the one of the most famous and important "what-ifs" in Ocean Liner history.
Her completion could have greatly impacted the history of both Cunard and White Star Lines. Had she been completed, White Star would have most definitely been in a better position during the inevitable merger with Cunard (perhaps a 45% - 55% split) and could still be around today.
Unfortunately, Oceanic's completion could have also meant an early retirement of Cunard-White Star's pre-war superliners (Majestic, Berengaria, Aquitania, Mauretania and Olympic) as Cunard-White Star could have operated a two-ship express service with Queen Mary and Oceanic as early as 1936.
This could have also meant that there would be no need for the Queen Elizabeth.
There are infinite ways that Oceanic's completion could have affected history, and to think about them is what makes her so fascinating.
Article by Eric Okanume, 2017
Sources: White Star, Roy Anderson/Damned by Destiny, David Williams and Richard P. De Kerbrech/The Unfinished Dream, Timothy Trower/Falling Star, John P. Eaton and Charles A. Haas/Eric Okanume/Richard Edwards/Timothy Trower/150 Liners. Thomas Balogh/Anton Logvynenko Maritime Artist/Ships of the White Star Line, Richard De Kerbrech./Ocean Liners/The New York Times/Times Magazine/British Pathe
Special Thanks to Anton Logvynenko and Pavel Chlupac
RECOMMENDED READING
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