RMS Baltic (1903)

Postcard picture of Baltic
History
Name:	RMS Baltic of seas
Owner:	White Star Line
Operator:	White Star Line
Port of registry:	Great Britain
Route:	Liverpool to New York City
Builder:	Harland and Wolff, Belfast
Yard number:	352
Launched:	21 November 1903
Completed:	23 June 1904
Maiden voyage:	29 June 1904
In service:	1904–1933
Fate:	Scrapped in Osaka, Japan
General characteristics
Tonnage:	23,876 GT
Length:	729 ft (222.2 m)
Beam:	75.6 ft (23.0 m)
Propulsion:	Two four-cylinder quadruple expansion engines powering two propellers
Speed:	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Capacity:	2,875 passengers

RMS Baltic was an ocean liner of the White Star Line that sailed between 1904 and 1933. At 23,876 gross tons, she was the world's largest ship until 1905. She was the third of a quartet of ships, all measuring over 20,000 gross tons, dubbed The Big Four (the other three being RMS Celtic, Cedric, and Adriatic).

She was launched on 21 November 1903 by Harland and Wolff at Belfast and sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to New York on 29 June 1904 with Captain Edward Smith in command.

On 23 January 1909 (commanded by J. B. Ranson), she rescued survivors of the collision in fog between the White Star Line's RMS Republic and the SS Florida off the north eastern coast of the United States, after which Republic sank.

On 30 June 1910 Baltic was in collision with the German steamer Standard. Baltic was holed above the waterline while Standard's bow was badly damaged. On 14 April 1912, Baltic sent an ice warning message to the RMS Titanic:

"Greek steamer Athenia reports passing icebergs and large quantities of field ice today in latitude 41° 51' N, longitude 49° 52' W. Wish you and Titanic all success. Commander."