The SS Arctic was a 2,856-ton paddle steamer that operated a transatlantic passenger and mail steamship service during the 1850s. It was owned by the Collins Line and was the largest of a fleet of four. The SS Arctic sank on September 27, 1854, after colliding with the French steamer SS Vesta off the coast of Newfoundland. The SS Arctic was renowned for its speed and luxurious accommodations. Today, the name Arctic is also associated with a motor yacht built by Schichau Unterweser AG from Germany and launched in 1969.
What You'll Learn
The SS Arctic was owned by the Collins Line
The SS Arctic was built at the William H. Brown shipyard and designed by George Steers. Launched in 1850, the SS Arctic was the third of the four Collins Line ships to be launched, after the SS Atlantic and SS Pacific, and was the largest of the four. The ship was 284 feet (87 m) in length and measured 2,856 tons by the U.S. Custom House measurement then in use. The SS Arctic was renowned for both its speed and the luxury of its accommodation.
The SS Arctic entered regular service on October 26, 1850, and quickly established a reputation as one of the fastest ocean liners, often completing the transatlantic crossing in ten days or less. The ship's luxurious accommodations were in stark contrast to those of other ships at the time, such as the cabin experienced by Charles Dickens when he crossed the Atlantic in Cunard's Britannia in 1840, which he described as "a thoroughly hopeless, and profoundly preposterous box." In comparison, the SS Arctic's main saloon was described as having "an air of almost Oriental magnificence."
The SS Arctic's captain, James F. Luce, was admired by passengers for his social qualities and seamanship. Under his command, the SS Arctic became the most celebrated of the Collins Line ships, earning the title "Clipper of the Sea" for its record-breaking crossing from New York to Liverpool in nine days, seventeen hours, in the winter of 1851-52.
Unfortunately, the SS Arctic met a tragic end on September 27, 1854, when it collided with the French steamer SS Vesta off the coast of Newfoundland. The SS Arctic sank four hours after the collision, resulting in the loss of over 300 lives, including all the women and children on board. The SS Arctic disaster highlighted the inadequate lifeboat provisions on passenger-carrying ships, which continued well into the 20th century. Despite public outcry and press calls for an inquiry, no official investigation was held, and the Collins Line continued its transatlantic service until further maritime losses and insolvency led to its closure in 1858.
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It was built by the William H. Brown and Jacob Bell shipyards
The SS Arctic was built by the William H. Brown and Jacob Bell shipyards. William H. Brown (1803-1855) was an American shipbuilder, who established the William H. Brown shipyard at the foot of Twelfth Street on the East River in New York City. He was one of the country's first shipbuilders, operating his business for over thirty years and constructing more than 300 vessels. Brown was renowned for building swift and seaworthy yachts and schooners. He was also known for his partnership with Cornelius Vanderbilt, with whom he built three vessels.
Jacob Bell (1792-1852) was also an American shipbuilder and the founder of the Brown & Bell shipyard in New York City. He began his career as an apprentice to Adam and Noah Brown, who were among the most prominent shipbuilders in New York at the time. Bell later partnered with David Brown, and their shipyard built the first two ocean steamers launched in New York. They also constructed one of the earliest clipper ships, the Houqua. After David Brown's retirement in 1848, Bell continued the business under his own name, "Jacob Bell." Before the dissolution of their partnership, they had built over 150 vessels, and Bell constructed around 50 more independently.
The SS Arctic was one of four large wooden paddle steamers commissioned by Edward Knight Collins, the American shipping magnate, for use in a regular transatlantic mail service. The contract for the construction of these ships was worth almost $1.5 million. The SS Arctic was built at Brown's shipyard and designed by George Steers. It was launched on January 28, 1850, from Brown's yard on New York's East River, attracting a crowd of 30,000 spectators. The SS Arctic was the third of the four ships to be launched and was the largest of the fleet. It measured 284 feet in length and 2,856 tons. The ship was not only remarkably fast but also boasted luxurious accommodations.
The SS Arctic operated a transatlantic passenger and mail steamship service during the 1850s, challenging the British-backed Cunard Line's supremacy. Unfortunately, on September 27, 1854, the SS Arctic collided with the French steamer SS Vesta off the coast of Newfoundland and sank four hours later. This tragic incident highlighted the inadequate lifeboat provisions on passenger-carrying ships, which persisted well into the 20th century.
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The SS Arctic was the largest of four ships
The SS Arctic was built at the William H. Brown shipyard and designed by George Steers. It was the third of the four ships to be launched, following the SS Atlantic and SS Pacific, and was marginally the largest of the four. The ship was 284 feet (87 m) in length and was measured at 2,856 tons by the U.S. Custom House measurement then in use. The SS Arctic's two side-lever steam engines, which accounted for $250,000 of the total construction cost of $700,000, were built and fitted by Stillman, Allan and Company. Each engine generated 1,000 horsepower, turning the 35.5-foot (10.8 m) paddle wheels at 16 revolutions per minute at full speed.
The SS Arctic was launched on January 28, 1850, from Brown's yard on New York's East River, and entered regular transatlantic service on October 26, 1850. In the years that followed, the ship established a reputation as one of the fastest ocean liners, regularly completing the crossing in ten days and sometimes less. The SS Arctic became the most celebrated of the Collins Line ships and was known as the "clipper of the sea."
On September 27, 1854, while en route to New York from Liverpool, the SS Arctic collided with the Vesta, a much smaller fishing vessel, 50 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. There were approximately 400 people on board the SS Arctic, including about 250 passengers and 150 crew members. The ship sank four hours after the collision, resulting in the loss of more than 300 lives. The tragedy sparked public outrage due to stories of cowardice by crew members, who took over some of the lifeboats. The fact that no women or children survived was particularly distressing to the American public.
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The ship was launched in 1850
The SS Arctic was launched on January 28, 1850, from Brown's yard on New York's East River. It was the third of four ships to be launched by the Collins Line, an American steamship company challenging the British-backed Cunard Line's transatlantic supremacy. The SS Arctic was built at the William H. Brown shipyard and designed by George Steers. It measured 2,856 tons and 284 feet in length and was powered by two side-lever steam engines, each generating 1,000 horsepower.
The SS Arctic was the largest of the four ships in the Collins Line fleet and was built with a luxurious standard. A contemporary description mentions the "air of almost Oriental magnificence" of the ladies' saloon. The ship was also designed with the potential for rapid conversion to a warship, which was of interest to the U.S. government.
The launch of the SS Arctic drew a large crowd, and the event was covered by the press. The New York Herald described the crowd's reaction as the ship slid into the water: "Men waved their hats, ladies their handkerchiefs, in admiration of the glad event... the thousands who witnessed her launch [stood] for nearly half an hour, contemplating the splendid vessel."
Following the launch, the SS Arctic underwent sea trials on October 18-19, 1850, before entering regular transatlantic service on October 26, 1850. The ship quickly established a reputation for speed and luxury, completing crossings from New York to Liverpool in as little as nine days and seventeen hours. It became the most celebrated of the Collins Line ships and was known as the "clipper of the sea."
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It sank in 1854 after colliding with the SS Vesta
On September 27, 1854, the SS Arctic collided with the SS Vesta in heavy fog off the coast of Newfoundland. The SS Arctic was a 2,856-ton paddle steamer, one of the Collins Line, which operated a transatlantic passenger and mail steamship service during the 1850s. It was the largest of a fleet of four, built with the aid of U.S. government subsidies to challenge the transatlantic supremacy of the British-backed Cunard Line. The SS Vesta was a 250-ton French iron screw steamer, built in 1853 and used as a fishing vessel.
At the time of the collision, the SS Arctic was carrying around 400 people, including 250 passengers and 150 crew members. The SS Vesta had a crew of 50 and was returning 147 fishermen and salters to Newfoundland. The collision occurred when the SS Arctic slipped into a bank of fog and was struck by the SS Vesta, which was travelling at around 10 knots. The SS Vesta's bow was sheared off in the collision, but the watertight bulkhead behind the bow remained intact, keeping the vessel afloat.
In contrast, the SS Arctic, which initially appeared to have sustained only superficial damage, was fatally holed below the waterline. The hull filled with water and the ship sank four hours later, resulting in a significant loss of life. Of the approximately 400 people on board the SS Arctic, only 88 survived, including 61 crew members and 24 male passengers. All the women and children on board perished.
The sinking of the SS Arctic caused widespread shock and outrage in the United States, with many criticising the perceived cowardice of the crew and their failure to prioritise the safety of the passengers. Despite calls for a full investigation and the introduction of further safety measures on passenger-carrying vessels, no official inquiry was conducted, and no one was held legally responsible for the disaster. The Collins Line continued its transatlantic service until 1858 when further maritime losses and insolvency led to its closure.
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Frequently asked questions
The SS Arctic was owned by the Collins Line.
The SS Arctic sank on September 27, 1854, after colliding with the French steamer SS Vesta.
There were approximately 400 people on board the SS Arctic when it sank, including around 250 passengers and 150 crew members.