The first step taken by the managers of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company was to arrange with the celebrated shipbuilders, Messrs. Harland and Wolff, Belfast, for the construction of a fleet of high-class steamships, expressly for the American passenger trade. The pioneer vessel of the line (the OCEANIC) was launched on the 27th August, 1870, and started on her maiden voyage under the White Star flag on the 2nd March, 1871. After running for several years between Liverpool and New York, this steamer (OCEANIC, the first), along with her sister ships, GAELIC and BELGIC, were chartered to the Occidental and Oriental Steamship Company, of San Francisco, to maintain a mail service between that port and the Orient. The OCEANIC was quickly followed on the Liverpool-New York service by the BALTIC, REPUBLIC, ADRIATIC and CELTIC, and weekly sailings from both ports were instituted. These steamers were all of the one type, straight stems, four masts, single funnel, and saloon amidships. They proved themselves to be equal in speed and superior in accommodation to any ships then afloat. Four more steamers were added to the fleet in 1873, viz., the ASIATIC, TROPIC, GAELIC and BELGIC. A great advance on the earlier steamships was made in 1874, when the BRITANNIC was launched, followed by her sister ship, the GERMANIC, in 1875. Prior to the formation of the White Star Atlantic Fleet, the passage between Liverpool and New York had averaged 9½ or 10 days, the OCEANIC and her consorts reduced it to about 8½ days, whilst the BRITANNIC and GERMANIC brought the time down to about 7½ days. These vessels, with the exception of the two last named which were larger and faster, were almost uniform in size and speed. These, and the later vessels of the fleet, were designed and built to attain the three-fold purpose of safety, speed and comfort, and their performances have certainly realised the expectations of their owners. Speed has been an important, but a secondary, consideration, as is shewn by the following extract from the “Book of Regulations” of the White Star Line of steamers:—