passengerliners

Wonder how soon after the Titanic sank that this was conducted?

the rings show this is the SS Rotterdam. 5 boats might indicate Rotterdam III, however her service dates were 1897-1906, so it is probably Rotterdam IV 1908-1940 which would mean 2 more boats would be to the right of the ones shown.

On closer inspection, the ring (flotation devices?) indicate the S.S. STATENDAM. Do you think that this is the correct ship? Could the following also be the Statendam? flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2787140790

It's really difficult to say. When I sharpen and enlarge this one it looks more like Rotterdam, when I do the other one it looks more like Statendam. Both ships are very similar is size and layout so it is probably impossible to say for sure, though I think it is most likely Statendam based on having 5 lifeboats in the photo and not 6.

Launched 05-23-1912, Vulcan Shipyards, Hamburg Gross Tonnage - 52,226 Dimensions - 269.09 x 29.96m Number of funnels - 3 Number of masts - 2 Builder - A.G.Vulcan, Hamburg Commisioned 05-24-1913 Size: 52.117 gross tons (European); 15,000 tons. Length over all: 277.06 m (269.07 registered) Width: 29.87 m Depth: 19.20 m Machines: 4 turbines AEG-Vulcan Speed: 23 knots normal, 24 knots maximum Capacity: 714+194 first class, 401+205 second class, 962+1772 third class passengers, 1180 crew. Source: SS Imperator / RMS Berengaria -- From the Monsters of the Sea: Great Ocean Liners of Time website

"The launch of the Imperator took place on May 23, 1912. The German Kaiser Wilhelm II had taken enormous interest in Ballin’s new trio, and now he was the one to lead the ceremony. Just below where the Imperator’s giant bow towered an ornamented platform had been built for the Kaiser and his staff. The Kaiser himself had dressed in his Admiral suite and he ascended the platform together with Albert Ballin [the ship's creator]. After the Kaiser’s speech when he was just to christen the ship, a piece of lumber fell from the ship’s bow and nearly hit the sovereign. This was seen as a bad omen by many, but the ceremony ended happily, at least." From Imperator/Berengaria: 1913 - 1938 from the Great Ocean Liners website.

The Kaiser loved the military and he loved his uniforms (article above mentions him dressing in his admiral's uniform). He would lead Germany and the entire world into the disastrous World War One in which many millions of soldiers and civilians were killed. Most European countries lost more soldiers in WW1 than in WW2. Imperator Im`pe*ra"tor\, n. [L. See Emperor.] (Rom. Antiq.) A commander; a leader; an emperor; -- originally an appellation of honor by which Roman soldiers saluted their general after an important victory. Subsequently the title was conferred as a recognition of great military achievements by the senate, whence it carried wiht it some special privileges. After the downfall of the Republic it was assumed by Augustus and his successors, and came to have the meaning now attached to the word emperor. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Of White Star's three ships of this type, the Olympic lasted the longest. The Brittanic was sunk in the Mediterranean while functioning as a hospital ship during WWI. The Olympic was called Old Reliable, and was finally broken up in 1937. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Olympic

And then, of course, the third ship of the type was the Titanic.

Actually, the Titanic was the second. The Brittanic (originally called Gigantic) was the third. After the Titanic went down they put her on hold for a bit, building up the watertight compartments and adding a lot more lifeboats. She never got a chance to be a passenger liner, though.

Amazing photo! Thank you once again LOC!

Haven't parts of the Olympic been used in a pub in England or Ireland?