Passenger career
Although intended to serve the Canada route, Laurentic made her maiden voyage on 12 November 1927 between Liverpool and New York, and made her second round trip on this route on 31 December. She then made two Mediterranean cruises, in January and March 1928. On 27 April, she made her first crossing on the Liverpool – Quebec – Montreal route.[7] Since Owen Philipps, 1st Baron Kylsant took over the White Star Line, the Canadian route had been operated by two ships from the company in 1927, SS Calgaric and SS Albertic, as well as the older Doric, SS Megantic and Regina.
Over time, however, as passenger traffic diminished, Regina was sold to another company, Calgaric was assigned to cruises, Megantic was laid up in 1931 and sold to Japanese buyers for Scrap in 1933, and Albertic was assigned to the New York route. When Doric was in turn assigned to cruises in 1932, Laurentic remained the last White Star liner assigned to the Canadian route.[7] On 3 October that year she collided with Lurigethan of the Mountain Steamship Co, in the Strait of Belle Isle.[8] Both ships were damaged above the waterline but were able to continue their voyage. An inquiry determined that Laurentic was "55 percent responsible" for the accident.[9]
On 25 February 1934, she made her last crossing on a regular route for the White Star between Boston, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Liverpool. She was then assigned to cruising. In March of that year, she took 700 pilgrims from Dublin to Rome for the Easter. For this voyage, ten altars were installed aboard for priests to celebrate Mass, plus a cinema to entertain the pilgrims.[7] That same year, shortly after Laurentic's pilgrim voyage, White Star Line merged with its rival, Cunard Line. Many surplus ships were sold as a result, but Laurentic was kept and temporarily assigned to the Montreal route, before returning to cruising.
In 1933 or 1934, there was a worldwide revision of the code letters of merchant ships. Laurentic's code letters KWPV were superseded by the new call sign GNJT.[10]
In summer 1935, Laurentic made several cruises in Scandinavia, with fares as low as £1 per day.[11] One of them, however, quickly turned into a disaster. On the night of Sunday 18 August, as Laurentic crossed the Irish Sea with 620 passengers aboard, Blue Star Line's refrigerated cargo ship Napier Star collided with her.[8] Napier Stars bow penetrated deep into Laurentics hull, instantly killing six crew members and injuring five others. The passengers were ordered to their boat stations, until the Master finally decided that the danger was past and sent them back to bed. Laurentic returned the next morning to Liverpool. Passengers were offered berths on a cruise aboard Doric, but she experienced a collision a few days later, ending her career.[12]
The damage to Laurentic was not severe, but was estimated to have cost £20,000. Repairs were immediately made, as the ship was scheduled to take pilgrims from Dublin to Lourdes on 6 September. Harland & Wolff completed the repairs in time for her to be able to cruise.[12] This proved to be her last commercial voyage. From December 1935, the ship was laid up in the River Mersey.[11]
After nine months laid up, in September 1936 Laurentic was dry docked in Gladstone Dock in Liverpool to return her to working order. She then sailed to Southampton to embark British troops on 14 September to take to Haifa in response to the Arab revolt in Palestine. She then returned to Southampton where she was again laid up. In 1937 she took part in the Coronation Naval Review of George VI at Spithead carrying government guests.[11] From April 1938 she was laid up again, at first at Southampton and later at Falmouth.[8][9]
