Gothic Fact File
Owner: Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (White Star Line)
Ship Details
Details
Vessel Type: Passenger and cargo ship
Official No: 102119
Builder: Harland & Wolff Ltd, Queen's Island, Belfast
Yard No: 267
Laid down: n/r
Launched: 28 June 1893
Handed over: 28 November 1893
Port & Date of Registry: Liverpool, 22 November 1893
Managing Owner & Address: Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., 10 Water Street, Liverpool
Description
Number of Decks: 3
Number of Masts: 4
Rigged: Schooner
Stern: Elliptical
Build: Clencher
Framework & Description of Vessel: Steel
Number of Bulkheads: 9
Number of water ballast tanks: 15
Dimensions
Length: 490.7.5 ft
Breadth: 53.2.5 ft
Depth: 33.5 ft
Gross Registered Tonnage: 7,720.40
Machinery
Engine Builder: Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast
Engine Type: 2 X inverted direct acting triple expansion surface condensing
Cylinders: 2 X 26; 2 X 42½; 2 X 70 inches
Stroke: 51 inches
Nominal Horse Power: 846
Boilers
Description: Forced draught, cylindrical multi-tubular
Number: 6
Iron or Steel: Steel
Pressure when loaded: 175 lbs
Screw: Twin
Speed: 14 knots
Signal Letters: N. F. V. B.
NOTES
Gothic was designed and built for the White Star-Shaw Savill & Albion Company joint service between London and New Zealand via Australia. gothic held at the time a number of 'firsts'.
She was the largest liner to enter the London docks (apart from Great Eastern) and the first twin-screw vessel on this service. She had accommodation for 104 Saloon passengers (amidships) and 114 Steerage (in the quarter deck, aft). Fitted with J. & E. Hall’s latest refrigerating equipment, on the carbonic-anhyride system, her insulated capacity could carry around 75,000 frozen sheep carcasses.
Gothic was an unlucky ship. Following a disastrous fire in her cargo of wool in 1906, in which a large portion of her elegant Victorian interiors were destroyed, the ship was refitted at Belfast for the emigrant trade and operated by Red Star Line under the name Gothland.
