HISTORY - German Greyhounds I

The 1870/71 united Germany is streching its legs with German flagged Greyhounds.
by Earl of Cruise

Johann G. Lohmann (1830-1892), source Wikipedia

It started back then when the NORDDEUTSCHER LLOYD (in English) director Johann Georg Lohmann wished to create a weekly transatlantic service from Bremen via the Channel ports to New York. Lohmann and his engineer Overbeck developed a new vessel, based on the GUION LINE´s ss ARIZONA.

ss ARIZONA of GUION LINE, source Wikipedia

The shipbuilding and the steam technology had improved over the years. From the very beginning with the SAVANNAH, CUNARD´s rms BRITANNIA, the ss GREAT WESTERN and the first transatlantic screw driven vessel ss GREAT BRITAIN, shipbuilders and engine engineers have learned and implemented new technologies and developed new anemities for the passengers.

But in principle, the steamships have still been copies of sailing vessels - first with sidewheels, then screw driven - passengers and cargo in the hull and the deck (main deck) for sailing the vessel.

It changed dramatically, when GUION LINE introduced 1879 its revolutionary design of the most powerful and luxurious vessel of her time, the ss ARIZONA. She was the first to implement a superstructure of substance above the main deck, building an entirely new construction containing passenger anemities.

The new superstructure enabled a shelter for passengers strolling on deck, without disturbing the crew, or breaking their legs - the promenade, enabling too a new lighted atmosphere and fresh air in salons. and to top it, new luxurious spacious cabins ... and besides, the ss ARIZONA catched the Blue Riband for the fastest crossings of the pond with 16kts.

Director Lohmann and the NORDDEUTSCHER LLYOD chief engineer took a deep inside look at this new vessel ss ARIZONA and developed a vessel purpose built for the needs of the Bremen housed company and its route to New York. With their own plans they went to John Elders in Glasgow for building the first vessel of a series of eleven - the ss ELBE. The FlüsseKlasse (River Class) was for the next 110 years the biggest series a single shipping company or group did order.

1881; ss ELBE; 127,46 m; 13,72 m; 4510 GT; 4 cyl. compound steam engine; John Elder & Co. Ltd., Glasgow; sunk 1895 after the collision with CRATHIE in the Channel with 332 dead

cutaway of ss ELBE - pictures source Wikipedia

Up to 1881 the competition for NORDDEUTSCHER LLOYD was foremost its Hanseatic rival Hamburg and the HAMBURGAMERIKANISCHE PAKETFAHRT (HAPAG). With the introduction of the ss ELBE they went international.

Elder, later Fairfield, constructed these ships and each of them got bigger, stronger and technical more advenced than the predessor. But all have been till the last ones, constructed in Germany at the VULCAN in Stettin single screw vessels. ss HAVEL and ss SPREE became the first German built transatlantic liners.

1890; ss SPREE; 140,83 m; 15,11 m; 6963 BRT; 10 Zyl. 3-fach-Exp. Dampfmaschine; AG Vulcan, Stettin;

1899; conversion into a twin screw vessel, ss KAISERIN MARIA THERESIA; 160,33 m; 15,86 m; 8276 GT; 1904 sold as auxilliary cruiser to Russia - source Wikipedia

1891; ss HAVEL; 140,83 m; 15,86 m; 6963 GT; 10 Zyl. triple-exp. steamengine; AG Vulcan, Stettin; 1898 sold as auxiliary cruiser to Spain

NDL still on the international stage of transatlantic transport, went into something new - an international renowned competitor on the continent. Besides COMPAGNIE GÉNÉRALE TRANSATLANTIQUE they offered on their new ss ELBE and the following half sisters an international loved and much appreceated service and food.

While NDL was since its beginning even with the international competition, HAPAG was till the employment of Alber Ballin, allways one or two steps behind his Hanseatic rival and the international competitors.

HAPAG did send with ss HAMONNIA, 1881, only a half hearted rebuild but new vessel as competition after the inauguration of NDL´s ss ELBE.

Albert Ballin (15 August 1857 – 9 November 1918)

Director Ballin (in English) changed the policies at HAPAG steady but dramatically. In the end he had the board on his side when he 1886 comissioned two new ships of the newest technology - twin srew vessels with the latest steam engine technology. ss AUGUSTA VICORIA 1887 and ss COLUMBIA 1888. While ss AUGUSTA VICTORIA had been built in Great Britain, the ss COLUMBIA was built in Germany. A first for this technology. For this vessel building in German there had been a special protegé, Kronprinz Wilhelm, the late Kaiser Wilhelm II, who became a friend of Albert Ballin. Who had his problems in the society of Hamburg. He was of Jewish belive, and he was not a "Hamburg born" nor an owner of a shippling line, only the owner of migrant agency - of rather a great success then.

ss AUGUSTA VICTORIA - source Wikipedia

The second set of these HAPAG greyhounds have been built as well in Great Britain as again and Germany.

ss FÜRST BISMARCK - source Wikipeadia

Both vessels have been large and powerful and made the Flüsse Klasse vessels look old, even when the last two vessels ss HAVEL and ss SPREE had, as a first on the Atlantic, a triple-expansion steam engine, but still have been single screwed. They met the competiors on the Atlantic on the same level as the standard has been.

Ballin did set too a new benchmark in service standard with the four new HAPAG vessels. And started finally a new race of competition. Not only with NDL but international.

Only eleven years after the German union NDL became international recognized. And another five years later Ballin made the step for more to come.

American shipbuilders have lost the competition in late mid 19the century against Great Britain, as they did stick to long to wooden hulls and older steam technology when it came to irion hulls and further steel hulled vessels.

The British lines didn´t realize the new competition from the new maritime rival Germany after its union and lacked the interest in regarding what was emerging in France in Saint Nazaire.

For the German competition, and the sudden exploding of shipbuilders they had in the end a question to themselves: "Havn´t they been a state since ... how many years? And do they even have an industry of their own?"

The invention of the black mailing "Made in Germany" to excempt this new rival, lashed back. This "Made in Germany" became a synonym for high standard and quality ...

History - German Greyhounds II

Comments

Ocean Liners in Movies or Films at Sea (updated Nov 2017)

For liners and the shipping companies movies and films had been a top marketing tool Movies or Films and liners at sea, had been intriguing me since I have read about in my youth in LUXUSLINER - BILDER EINER GROSSEN ZEIT by Lee Server ( THE GOLDEN AGE OF OCEAN LINERS ). But earlier, mot only since my first crossing, I was keen watching movies with liners in it, and disapointed, which was an understatement, when I realized the films have been made in a set ashore in some movie "factory". That was after my first crossing. by Earl of Cruise an essay in progress `Sabrina´, Humphrey Bogart in the office, while LIBERTÉ is sailing out of New York harbor - screenshot Ocean liners, especially those of the luxury category, had been the location of dramas, love stories, thrillers, suspense and catastrophies sinde film was born, or nearly. In this list, the most descriptions are taken from Wikipedia, as I guess no one can expect having seen all these films ... otherwise I w...

HISTORY - The CUNARD - WHITE STAR Liner rms QUEEN ELIZABETH (1938-1972)

Over years, in my early youth, the QUEEN ELIZABETH was shaping my mind for the perfect ocean liner, despite having made my first experiences with a liner onboard the HANSEATIC (1), ex EMPRESS OF SCOTLAND, ex EMPRESS OF JAPAN. When leaning at the rail of HANSEATIC entering the port, my eyes where every where and I wished to by a camera, I took all in. And when seeing the QUEEN ELIZABETH with my own eyes, the nice behaving young boy turned into a tomboy, that my grandmére was no longer able to tame ... I did draw quite a lot of looks, back then. I found, while on research, this article and thought it interesting publishing in my blog: written and published by John Sheperd at liverpoolships.org editing and comments by Earl of Cruise I ( John Shepard ) joined the CUNARD LINE in March 1962 as an Assistant Purser and sailed the QUEEN ELIZABETH throughout that year, before transferring to the Liverpool-based CARINTHIA in November, where I remained as Crew Purser for the next five...

HISTORY - EUGENIO C. a masterpiece of Italian design and engineering

EUGENIO C., later EUGENIO COSTA, was a masterpiece of Italian design and is an example of beautifully integrated ship design. Her naval architect, Nicolò Costanzi, and her interior designer, Nino Zoncada, worked side by side, or hand in hand, to create a perfect balance and continuity between the vessel's interiors and the exterior profile. EUGENIO C. became a masterpiece of the 60s design and elegance. by Earl of Cruise Some readers had been asking for interior photographies ... here they are. Eugenio C. Tourist Class A pool, looking aft into the wake line - own collection, copy from my LINEA „ C ‟ broshure EUGENIO C. entered service a little more than 50 years ago in 1966. EUGENIO C. was a child of the swinging 60s, when we had the first jet setters, and still style and elegance. And travelling by jet in those days was still an expensive way to travel for few. I am not the only one wishing the same intent and sensibility would be a guide line for present sh...

ss NORMANDIE 1935-1942 XIII - Le NORMANDIE the great triumph and tragic end of the greatest ship of France

NORMANDIE at sea - courtsey coloured by Daryl LeBlanc Le NORMANDIE , the greates ship of France, was a great triumph for the French industry, economy the most gracious ambassador of France - a symbol of cultur and Savoir de Vivre. NORMANDIE never surppassed by any liner. But whom the gods love, they beat him to a tragic ending. In case of NORMANDIE the gods let do their dirty job by careless, ignorant and arrogant US Navy officials and their sub contractors. by Earl of Cruise NORMANDIE had 4 years of living and the chance to bring Glitz, Glamour and Luster into a world that was just in front of an abyss since October 1929. Sailing with NORMANDIE , created to cater primarily the First Clas clientele, and enjoying life on board seems to me today, as a Dance on the Volcano, that errupted in 1939. Longitudinal cutaway of PARIS - own collection copy from a CGT broshure ÎLE DE FRANCE , Cie Gle TRANSATLANTIQUE provoking ART DÉCO liner - own collection ...

HISTORY - OCEANIC, a matter of design

OCEANIC of once HOME LINES was a matter of design and became an icon similar to EUGENIO C. her near sister for LINEA C. OCEANIC is reflecting a time when good design was a neccessaty for the reputation of a passenger shipping company. by Earl of Cruise ss OCEANIC, promotional postcard of HOME LINES - own collection "Give an Italian a piece of steel and he is forming art of it!" I wrote in my article about EUGENIO C. , it is with OCEANIC the same ... OCEANIC is often called the near sister to the LINEA C. liner for the La Plata trade. OCEANIC, another Italian beauty, instead was constructed for the Transatlantic run in summer seasons from Cuxhaven via Southampton and Le Havre to Canada, and in winter OCEANIC was intended to do cruises. Unfortunately OCEANIC never entered the Transatlantic trade and was used from the beginning of her long career as a cruise vessel. ss EUGENIO C., promotional postcard of LINEA C - own collection OCEANIC was the first new...

HISTORY - ts / ss BREMEN and ts / ss EUROPA

Germany’s two luxury liners, BREMEN and EUROPA , have not only played an important part in their country’s mercantile revival, but have added also an immortal chapter to the history of transatlantic travel. Copy from Shipping Wonders of the World From part 6 , published 17 March 1936 editing by Earl of Cruise ss / ts BREMEN in her early years - Source: Shipping Wonders of the World/Bundespresse Archiv The PRIDE OF A NATION - the NORDDEUTSCHER LLOYD quadruple-screw turbine express liner BREMEN . The keel of this ship was laid in June 1927. Her launch took place in August, 1928. In less than a year later, the Bremen made her first voyage to America, when she crossed the Atlantic from Cherbourg to New York in four days seventeen hours forty-two minutes, thus setting up a new record and gaining the coveted “Blue Riband”. During the passage the Bremen attained an average speed of 27.83 knots. ss / ts BREMEN in her early years - Source: W ikipedia For the pop...

Thank You 500,000 readers

HISTORY - FRENCH LINE - COMPAGNIE GÉNÉRALE TRANSATLANTIQUE, a review - Part II Belle Epoque

The COMPAGNIE GÉNÉRALE TRANSATLANTIQUE, known since the Belle Epoque as FRENCH LINE in the English speaking world (or TRANSAT or CGT), had its origins in 1861. by Earl of Cruise E mperor Napoléon III. wanted strengthening the French primacy on the oceans and an adequate mail line for the French mail. The 1855 established COMPAGNIE GÉNÉRALE MARITIME of the Péreire brothers was the core for the new company. This company´s headquarter was, as any major business in France, situated in Paris, while the homeport of the vessels had been Le Havre for the North Atlantic and Marseille for the route to the Orient and Africa. Houseflag of COMPAGNIE GÉNÉRALE TRANSATLANTIQUE S.A. - soure: ebay "On limited space, we put our country on display", a crewmember declared once. And no other line put in more of its national personality into its product than COMPAGNIE GÉNÉRALE TRANSATLANTIQUE . After the French - Prussian/German war of 1870/71 France had to sig...

Luxury Expedition - PONANT has reached 30 years

PONANT , France's number 2 cruise company and world leader in polar expeditions celebrates 30 years of existence. It was on 1 April 1988 that the adventure began in Nantes, where 14 young Merchant Navy officers aged 23 to 29, including Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, still active as CEO, and Philippe Videau, decided to create the company, which first took the name COMPAGNIE des ÎLES du PONANT (it became COMPAGNIE du PONANT in 2009 and simply PONANT in 2014). PONANT is the only cruise company in France flying the Tricolore. by Earl of Cruise based on an article by Vincent Groizeleau at Mer et Marine LE PONANT in the port of Bonifacio, Corsica - Sourece: Wikipedia ( original seize ) The first ship, built in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, was born in 1991. It is the sailboat and cruise vessel LE PONANT , a modern three-masted ship of 85.5 meters long with 32 cabins, still in service. LE PONANT´s sails became the logo of PONANT. LE LEVANT - Source: Wikipedia ( original seize ) ...

HISTORY - rms MAJESTIC - Hand in Hand with rms TITANIC

TITANIC and MAJESTIC (1890), both Royal Mail Ships, hand in hand? How so? The review of João Martins will show. by João Martins , editing by Earl of Cruise And WHITE STAR LINE was more than only a shipping line which employed rms TITANIC. WHITE STAR was company with a great heritage and introduced many innovations which became standards. Founded by Thomas Henry Ismay , originally from Maryport, and shareholders amoung whom had been HARLAND&WOLFF . Later the Irish shipbuilder, located in Belfast, built all ships for WHITE STAR. rms MAJESTIC as built by HARLAND&WOLFF - Sour ce: Wikipedia ( original seize ) T he rms MAJESTIC was a 9,965 GRT British ocean liner built by HARLAND & WOLFF for WHITE STAR LINE and completed in 1890. Her career was profoundly intertwined with rms TITANIC. In the late 1880s competition for the Blue Riband, the award for the fastest Atlantic crossing, was fierce amongst the major shipping lines. At the time the prize belonged to CUNA RD...

Search This Blog

Thank You 500,000 readers