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SS City of New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Owner: | Inman Line |
| Builder: | John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland |
| Laid down: | Unknown |
| Launched: | March 15, 1888 |
| Christened: | March 15, 1888 |
| Maiden voyage: | August 1, 1888 |
| Fate: | Scrapped. 1922 |
| General Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Tonnage: | 10,508 gross tons (29,755 m³) |
| Displacement: | 17,270 tons (17,550 metric tons) |
| Length: | 560 feet (171 meters) |
| Beam: | 63 feet (19.3 meters) |
| Draught: | Unknown |
| Power: | Triple expansion reciprocating steam engines; 28,000 horsepower. |
| Propulsion: | Twin screw |
| Speed: | 20 knots |
| Number of Passenger: | Total of 1290 |
SS City of New York, also known as SS New York, was an ocean liner originally operated by Inman Line and later operated by American Line (as SS New York) and US Navy (as USS Harvard and USS Plattsburg). Constructed by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland and launched in March 15, 1888 and began her maiden voyage on August 1, 1888. She briefly held the Blue Riband for eastbound crossing in 1892 until Cunard liner Campania won in 1893. New York served for an astonishing 34 years until 1922 when she was sold for scrap.
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When Inman Line was purchased by International Navigation Company, who already owned Red Star Line and American Line, they had the funds to compete with shipping giants Cunard and White Star. City of New York was launched and christened on March 15, 1888 and five months later, she began her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York. City of New York and her sister City of Paris was the largest passenger ship of the day. She was not only the largest, but also the most luxurious and she was fitted with running hot and cold water, electric ventilation and electric lighting. Her First Class public rooms, such as library and smoking room, was fitted with walnut panel and her dining salon comes with a massive dome that provide a natural light to the passengers.
In 1892, City of New York managed to outrun her sister City of Paris and won a Blue Riband for eastbound crossing and this was the final year serving under Inman Line. In the same year the British government stopped susbsidising both City of Paris and City of New York. The only way to solve a potential financial crisis was to transfer them to American Line. Transferring both ships was not easy, a law that protects American shipbuilding industry required any American flagged vessel to be built in United States. However, US congress granted International Navigation Company's request an exception to transfer both ship to American Line in exchange to have their new liners, St. Louis and St. Paul to serve in war duties if needed. Now under American Line, City of New York was renamed to New York. She sailed from New York to Southampton for five years.
When United States declared war on Spain in 1898, the US Government requestioned New York to serve as an auxiliary cruiser. She was re-named to USS Harvard and commissioned on April 26, 1898. After the war, she was decommissioned on September 2, 1898.
In January of 1899, New York' resumed her civilan service with New York-Southampton run. During her first post-war crossing, one of her engine broke down and she had to brought down to Southampton for repairs for three months. New York's return to service was cut short when she was taken out service for an extensive refit. Her engines was replaced with a newer one and replaced her three funnels with two taller funnels. She resumed her service in April 14, 1903.
On April 10, 1912, while berthed in Southampton beside Oceanic, New York, secured by three-inch steel hawsers, was torn from her moorings by the Titanic as the larger and heavier ship sailed by. A collision was narrowly avoided when Titanic's captain, Edward Smith, immediately ordered the port propeller in reverse and the nearby tugboat operator towed New York away from Titanic.
In 1913, she was re-configured as Second and Third Class only liner and a year later she was transferred from her usual Southampton-New York to Liverpool-New York run.
US Navy commissioned her as USS Plattsburg when United States declared war on Germany in 1918.
After World War I, with one of her mast removed, New York resumed her passenger service in 1920. She remained with the American Line for nine months until she was sold to Polish Navigation Company. She retained her name and after serving one voyage, her new owner went bankrupt. She was seized by the creditors and sold to Irish American Line in 1922. She didn't stay long and she was sold to United Transatlantic Line and again to American Black Sea Line. Her last Atlantic crossing was on June 10, 1922 from New York to Naples and Constantinople and later that year she was sold for scrappers.