SS Traffic (1911)

SS Traffic was a tender of the White Star Line, and the fleetmate to the SS Nomadic (1911). She was built for the White Star Line by Harland and Wolff, at Belfast, to serve the Olympic-class ocean liners. In Cherbourg, her role was to transport Third Class passengers and mails between the port and the liners anchored in the harbour, while the Nomadic was tasked with transporting First Class and Second Class passengers.

In April 1912, she transported immigrants from port to the Titanic, and continued to serve White Star until 1927, without interruption. During World War I, she took part in the landing of soldiers from the United States. In 1927, she was sold to the Société Cherbourgeoise Transbordement, before joining the Société Cherbourgeoise de Remorquage et de Sauvetage in 1934, which renamed her Ingenieur Reibell.

In June 1940, the French Navy scuttled Ingenieur Reibell ahead of the German advance on the port of Cherbourg. Shortly after, the Germans refloated her to convert the vessel into an escort ship. In January 1941, she was torpedoed and sunk by the British. Her wreck was salvaged and scrapped.

Background and construction

Early life serving Olympic and Titanic

On 31 May 1911, after her sea trials, the Olympic docked at Liverpool, United Kingdom, her home port and headquarters of the White Star Line, to be presented to the gathered crowd.[10] It was on this same day that the Titanic was launched.[11] The two tenders left the Olympic at the exit of Belfast Lough, at the mouth of the Lagan, to head for Cherbourg.[12] Sailing at a maximum speed of 12 kn, they reached their destination on 3 June 1911.[13]

Although British-owned and flying the flag of the White Star Line, the port of registration of the Traffic was that of Cherbourg and she was operated by a French crew. This was made up of Captain Gaillard, six officers, as well as ten men assigned to the machines and the loading of the holds.[7] The Traffic was managed by George A. Laniece, the representative of the White Star Line in Cherbourg.[9]

The Traffic offered service for the first time when the Olympic docked at Cherbourg for its maiden voyage, on 14 June 1911.[7] Her service on that day was not exemplary, since a number of deficiencies were noted in the transport of mail and baggage. Bruce Ismay, who was not satisfied, asked that better efforts be made for the next ferrying. However, the problems were quickly resolved and during the three other Olympic stopovers in Cherbourg between June and September, the ferrying went smoothly.[13] In April 1912, she transported third-class passengers, mail, and baggage to the Titanic during the vessel's stopover in Cherbourg on her maiden voyage.[14] The next day, Traffic again carried immigrants to another White Star liner, the RMS Adriatic (1906), which would bring Titanic survivors back to England a few days later.[7]

A few days after the sinking of the Titanic, the Olympic made a stopover in Cherbourg where she was solemnly welcomed. The flags were at half mast, and the Nomadic and Traffic officers wore black ties as a sign of mourning. The crew of the Olympic then went on strike and refused to go back to sea until lifeboats were added to the liner. The forced immobilization of the latter paralyzed for a time the two tenders in the port of Cherbourg. The crew's request was finally satisfied and service resumed.[15]

country	France
owner	House flag of White Star Line.svg White Star Line (1911-1927) Société Cherbourgeoise Transbordement (1927-1934) *Société Cherbourgeoise de Remorquage et de Sauvetage (1934-1940)
operator	White Star Line (1911-1934) Société Cherbourgeoise de Remorquage et de Sauvetage (1934-1940)
ordered	19 July 1910
builder	*Harland and Wolff, Belfast
yard number	423
way number	No1
laid down	22 December 1910
launched	27 April 1911
completed	27 May 1911
maiden voyage	31 May 1911
in service	27 May 1911
registry	Cherbourg
fate	Torpedoed and sunk on 17 January, 1941; wreck raised and scrapped later that year

Background and construction

Early life serving Olympic and Titanic

Wartime and postwar

World War II, sinking and scrapping

Bibliography

External links

References