Blue Riband

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For other uses, see Blue Riband (disambiguation).
For use of the related term "Blue Ribbon", see Blue ribbon (disambiguation).

The Blue Riband (pronounced /blu 'rɪbənd/) is the award received by the ship with the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing. The term is believed to have been derived from Cordon Bleu. The first steam-only powered crossing of the Atlantic was in 1833. The Blue Riband was a creation of the transatlantic shipping companies in the 1860s, for the publicity opportunities of possessing the fastest ship. There were separate awards for the fastest eastbound and westbound crossings. It was represented by a blue pennant flown from the topmast of the ship, until 1935 when Sir Harold Keates Hales (1868-1942), a British politician and owner of Hales Brothers shipping company, initiated a trophy.

The Hales Trophy is awarded on the basis of average speed, since the distance of transatlantic routes varies. Theoretically the endpoints could be any port in the Canadian Maritimes or the Eastern Seaboard of the United States in the west, and any port in Ireland, Britain, or western Europe in the east, but traditionally routings considered for transatlantic records tend to involve service to or from New York City. The last "superliner" to hold the trophy was the SS United States, which set a time that was not beaten until 1990.

Contents

[edit] Holders of the Blue Riband

Some of the ships that held the record for the fastest crossing, including those recorded before the Blue Riband was instituted, with the date first achieved:

[edit] Westbound

Steamer Year Dates Line From To Nautical
Miles		 Days, hours, minutes Knots
Sirius 1838 4 April–22 April B&A Cork Sandy Hook 3583 18 d, 14 h, 22 m 8.03
Great Western 1838 8 April–23 April GW Avonmouth New York 3220 15 d, 12 h, 0 m 8.66
Great Western 1838 2 June–17 June GW Avonmouth New York 3140 14 d, 16 h, 0 m 8.92
Great Western 1839 18 May–31 May GW Avonmouth New York 3086 13 d, 12 h, 0 m 9.52
Columbia 1841 4 June–15 June Cunard Liverpool Halifax (2534) 10 d, 19 h, 0 m (9.78)
Great Western 1843 29 April–11 May GW Liverpool New York 3068 12 d, 18 h, 0 m 10.03
Cambria 1845 19 July–29 July Cunard Liverpool Halifax (2534) 9 d, 20 h, 30 m (10.71)
America 1848 3 June–12 June Cunard Liverpool Halifax (2534) 9 d, 0 h, 16 m (11.71)
Europa 1848 14 October–23 October Cunard Liverpool Halifax (2534) 8 d, 23 h, 0 m (11.79)
Asia 1850 18 May–27 May Cunard Liverpool Halifax (2534) 8 d, 14 h, 50 m (12.25)
Pacific 1850 11 September–21 September Collins Liverpool New York (3050) 10 d, 4 h, 45 m (12.46)
Baltic 1851 6 August–16 August Collins Liverpool New York 3039 9 d, 19 h, 26 m 12.91
Baltic 1854 28 June–7 July Collins Liverpool New York 3037 9 d, 16 h, 52 m 13.04
Persia 1856 19 April–29 April Cunard Liverpool Sandy Hook (3045) 9 d, 16 h, 16 m (13.11)
Scotia 1863 19 July–27 July Cunard Queenstown New York (2820) 8 d, 3 h, 0 m (14.46)
Adriatic 1872 17 May–25 May W.Star Queenstown Sandy Hook 2778 7 d, 23 h, 17 m 14.53
Germanic 1875 30 July–7 August W.Star Queenstown Sandy Hook 2800 7 d, 23 h, 7 m 14.65
City Of Berlin 1875 17 September–25 September Inman Queenstown Sandy Bank 2829 7 d, 18 h, 2 m 15.21
Britannic 1876 27 October–4 November W.Star Queenstown Sandy Hook 2795 7 d, 13 h, 11 m 15.43
Germanic 1877 6 April–13 April W.Star Queenstown Sandy Hook 2830 7 d, 11 h, 37 m 15.76
Alaska 1882 9 April–16 April Guion Queenstown Sandy Hook 2802 7 d, 6 h, 20 m 16.07
Alaska 1882 14 May–21 May Guion Queenstown Sandy Hook 2871 7 d, 4 h, 12 m 16.67
Alaska 1882 18 June–25 June Guion Queenstown Sandy Hook 2886 7 d, 1 h, 58 m 16.98
Alaska 1883 29 April–6 May Guion Queenstown Sandy Hook 2844 6 d, 23 h, 48 m 17.05
Oregon 1884 13 April–19 April Guion Queenstown Sandy Hook 2861 6 d, 10 h, 10 m 18.56
Etruria 1885 16 August–22 August Cunard Queenstown Sandy Hook 2801 6 d, 5 h, 31 m 18.73
Umbria 1887 29 May–4 June Cunard Queenstown Sandy Hook 2848 6 d, 4 h, 12 m 19.22
Etruria 1888 27 May–2 June Cunard Queenstown Sandy Hook 2854 6 d, 1 h, 55 m 19.56
City of Paris 1889 2 May–8 May I&I Queenstown Sandy Hook 2855 5 d, 23 h, 7 m 19.95
City of Paris 1889 22 August–28 August I&I Queenstown Sandy Hook 2788 5 d, 19 h, 18 m 20.01
Majestic 1891 30 July–5 August W.Star Queenstown Sandy Hook 2777 5 d, 18 h, 8 m 20.10
Teutonic 1891 13 August–19 August W.Star Queenstown Sandy Hook 2778 5 d, 16 h, 31 m 20.35
City of Paris 1892 20 July–27 July I&I Queenstown Sandy Book 2785 5 d, 15 h, 58 m 20.48
City of Paris 1892 13 October–18 October I&I Queenstown Sandy Hook 2782 5 d, 14 h, 24 m 20.70
Campania 1893 18 June–23 June Cunard Queenstown Sandy Hook 2864 5 d, 15 h, 37 m 21.12
Campania 1894 12 August–17 August Cunard Queenstown Sandy Hook 2776 5 d, 9 h, 29 m 21.44
Lucania 1894 26 August–31 August Cunard Queenstown Sandy Hook 2787 5 d, 8 h, 38 m 21.65
Lucania 1894 23 September–28 September Cunard Queenstown Sandy Hook 2782 5 d, 7 h, 48 m 21.75
Lucania 1894 21 October–26 October Cunard Queenstown Sandy Hook 2779 5 d, 7 h, 23 m 21.81
Kaiser Wilhelm der Große 1898 30 March–3 April NDL Needles Sandy Hook 3120 5 d, 20 h, 0 m 22.29
Deutschland 1900 6 July–12 July Hapag Eddystone Sandy Hook 3044 5 d, 15 h, 46 m 22.42
Deutschland 1900 26 August–1 September Hapag Cherbourg Sandy Hook 3050 5 d, 12 h, 29 m 23.02
Deutschland 1901 26 July–1 August Hapag Cherbourg Sandy Hook 3141 5 d, 16 h, 12 m 23.06
Kronprinz Wilhelm 1902 10 September–16 September NDL Cherbourg Sandy Hook 3047 5 d, 11 h, 57 m 23.09
Deutschland 1903 2 September–8 September Hapag Cherbourg Sandy Hook 3054 5 d, 11 h, 54 m 23.15
Lusitania 1907 6 October–10 October Cunard Queenstown Sandy Hook 2780 4 d, 19 h, 52 m 23.99
Lusitania 1908 17 May–21 May Cunard Queenstown Sandy Hook 2889 4 d, 20 h, 22 m 24.83
Lusitania 1908 5 July–10 July Cunard Queenstown Sandy Hook 2891 4 d, 19 h, 36 m 25.01
Lusitania 1909 8 August–12 August Cunard Queenstown Ambrose 2890 4 d, 16 h, 40 m 25.65
Mauretania 1909 26 September–30 September Cunard Queenstown Ambrose 2784 4 d, 10 h, 51 m 26.06
Bremen 1929 17 July–22 July NDL Cherbourg Ambrose 3164 4 d, 17 h, 42 m 27.83
Europa 1930 20 March–25 March NDL Cherbourg Ambrose 3157 4 d, 17 h, 6 m 27.91
Europa 1933 27 June–2 July NDL Cherbourg Ambrose 3149 4 d, 16 h, 48 m 27.92
Rex 1933 11 August–16 August Italian Gibraltar Ambrose 3181 4 d, 13 h, 58 m 28.92
Normandie 1935 30 May–3 June CGT Bishop Rock Ambrose 2971 4 d, 3 h, 2 m 29.98
Queen Mary 1936 20 August–24 August C-WS Bishop Rock Ambrose 2907 4 d, 0 h, 27 m 30.14
Normandie 1937 29 July–2 August CGT Bishop Rock Ambrose 2906 3 d, 23 h, 2 m 30.58
Queen Mary 1938 4 August–8 August C-WS Bishop Rock Ambrose 2907 3 d, 21 h, 48 m 30.99
United States 1952 11 July–15 July USL Bishop Rock Ambrose 2906 3 d, 12 h, 12 m 34.51

[edit] Eastbound

Steamer Year Dates Line From To Nautical
Miles		 Days, hours, minutes Knots
Sirius 1838 1 May–19 May B&A New York Falmouth (3159) (18/0/0) (7.31)
Great Western 1838 7 May–22 May GW New York Avonmouth 3218 14 d, 15 h, 59 m 9.14
Great Western 1838 25 June–8 July GW New York Avonmouth 3099 12 d, 16 h, 34 m 10.17
Britannia 1840 4 August–14 August Cunard Halifax Liverpool (2610) 9 d, 21 h, 44 m (10.98)
Great Western 1842 28 April–11 May GW New York Liverpool 3248 12 d, 7 h, 30 m 10.99
Columbia 1843 4 April–14 April Cunard Halifax Liverpool (2534) 9 d, 12 h, 0 m (11.11)
Hibernia 1843 18 May–27 May Cunard Halifax Liverpool (2534) 9 d, 10 h, 44 m (11.18)
Hibernia 1843 18 July–27 July Cunard Halifax Liverpool (2534) 8 d, 22 h, 44 m (11.80)
Canada 1849 19 July–28 July Cunard Halifax Liverpool (2534) 8 d, 12 h, 44 m (12.38)
Pacific 1851 10 May–20 May Collins New York Liverpool (3078) 9 d, 20 h, 14 m (13.03)
Arctic 1852 7 February–17 February Collins New York Liverpool 3051 9 d, 17 h, 15 m 13.06
Persia 1856 2 April–12 April Cunard Sandy Hook Liverpool (3048) 9 d, 10 h, 22 m (13.46)
Persia 1856 14 May–23 May Cunard Sandy Hook Liverpool (3048) 9 d, 3 h, 24 m (13.89)
Persia 1856 6 August–15 August Cunard Sandy Hook Liverpool (3046) 8 d, 23 h, 19 m (14.15)
Scotia 1863 16 December–24 December Cunard New York Queenstown (2800) 8 d, 5 h, 42 m (14.16)
City of Brussels 1869 4 December–12 December Inman Sandy Hook Queenstown (2780) 7 d, 20 h, 33 m (14.74)
Baltic 1873 11 January–19 January W.Star Sandy Hook Queenstown 2840 7 d, 20 h, 9 m 15.09
City of Berlin 1875 2 October–10 October Inman Sandy Hook Queenstown 2820 7 d, 15 h, 28 m 15.37
Germanic 1876 5 February–13 February W.Star Sandy Hook Queenstown 2894 7 d, 15 h, 17 m 15.79
Britannic 1876 16 December–24 December W.Star Sandy Hook Queenstown 2892 7 d, 12 h, 41 m 15.94
Arizona 1879 22 July–29 July Guion Sandy Hook Queenstown 2810 7 d, 8 h, 11 m 15.96
Alaska 1882 30 May–6 June Guion Sandy Hook Queenstown (2791) 6 d, 22 h, 0 m (16.81)
Alaska 1882 12 September–19 September Guion Sandy Hook Queenstown 2781 6 d, 18 h, 37 m 17.10
Oregon 1884 29 March–5 April Guion Sandy Hook Queenstown 2916 7 d, 2 h, 18 m 17.12
Oregon 1884 26 April–3 May Guion Sandy Hook Queenstown 291 6 d, 16 h, 57 m 18.09
Oregon 1884 30 July–6 August Cunard Sandy Hook Queenstown 2853 6 d, 12 h, 54 m 18.18
Oregon 1884 3 September–10 September Cunard Sandy Hook Queenstown 2853 6 d, 11 h, 9 m 18.39
Etruria 1885 1 August–7 August Cunard Sandy Hook Queenstown 2822 6 d, 9 h, 0 m 18.44
Etruria 1888 7 July–14 July Cunard Sandy Hook Queenstown 2981 6 d, 4 h, 50 m 19.36
City of Paris 1889 15 May–22 May I&I Sandy Hook Queenstown 2894 6 d, 0 h, 29 m 20.03
City of New York 1892 17 August–23 August I&I Sandy Hook Queenstown 2814 5 d, 19 h, 57 m 20.11
Campania 1893 6 May–12 May Cunard Sandy Hook Queenstown 2928 5 d, 17 h, 27 m 21.30
Lucania 1894 6 May–12 May Cunard Sandy Hook Queenstown 2911 3 d, 13 h, 28 m 21.81
Lucania 1894 2 June–8 June Cunard Sandy Hook Queenstown 2911 5 d, 12 h, 59 m 21.90
Lucania 1895 18 May–24 May Cunard Sandy Hook Queenstown 2897 5 d, 11 h, 40 m 22.00
Kaiser Wilhelm der Große 1897 23 November–29 November NDL Sandy Hook Needles 3065 5 d, 17 h, 23 m 22.33
Deutschland 1900 18 July–24 July Hapag Sandy Hook Eddystone 3085 5 d, 15 h, 5 m 22.84
Deutschland 1900 4 September–10 September Hapag Sandy Hook Eddystone 2981 5 d, 7 h, 38 m 23.36
Deutschland 1901 13 June–19 June Hapag Sandy Hook Eddystone 3083 5 d, 11 h, 51 m 23.38
Deutschland 1901 10 July–17 July Hapag Sandy Hook Eddystone 3082 5 d, 11 h, 5 m 23.51
Kaiser Wilhelm II 1904 14 June–20 June NDL Sandy Hook Eddystone 3112 5 d, 11 h, 58 m 23.58
Lusitania 1907 19 October–24 October Cunard Sandy Hook Queenstown 2807 4 d, 22 h, 53 m 23.61
Mauretania 1907 30 November–5 December Cunard Beady Hook Queenstown 2807 4 d, 22 h, 33 m 23.69
Mauretania 1908 25 January–30 January Cunard Sandy Hook Queenstown 2932 5 d, 2 h, 41 m 23.90
Mauretania 1908 7 March–12 March Cunard Sandy Hook Queenstown 2932 5 d, 0 h, 5 m 24.42
Mauretania 1909 3 February–8 February Cunard Ambrose Queenstown, 2930 4 d, 20 h, 27 m 25.16
Mauretania 1909 17 March–22 March Cunard Ambrose Queenstown 2934 4 d, 18 h, 35 m 25.61
Mauretania 1909 5 May–10 May Cunard Ambrose Queenstown 2934 4 d, 18 h, 11 m 25.70
Mauretania 1909 16 June–21 June Cunard Ambrose Queenstown 2933 4 d, 17 h, 21 m 25.88
Mauretania 1924 20 August–25 August Cunard Ambrose Cherbourg 3198 5 d, 1 h, 49 m 26.25
Bremen 1929 27 July–1 August NDL Ambrose Eddystone 3084 4 d, 14 h, 30 m 27.91
Bremen 1933 10 June–15 June NDL Ambrose Cherbourg 3199 4 d, 16 h, 15 m 28.51
Normandie 1935 7 June–11 June CGT Ambrose Bishop Rock 3015 4 d, 3 h, 25 m 30.31
Queen Mary 1936 26 August–30 August C-WS Ambrose Bishop Rock 2939 3 d, 23 h, 57 m 30.63
Normandie 1937 18 March–22 March CGT Ambrose Bishop Rock 2967 4 d, 0 h, 6 m 30.99
Normandie 1937 4 August–8 August CGT Ambrose Bishop Rock 2936 3 d, 22 h, 7 m 31.20
Queen Mary 1938 10 August–14 August C-WS Ambrose Bishop Rock 2938 3 d, 20 h, 42 m 31.69
United States 1952 3 July–7 July USL Ambrose Bishop Rock 2942 3 d, 10 h, 40 m 35.59
Hoverspeed Great Britain 1990 23 June Aegean Speedlines 3 d, 7 h, 54 m 36.6
Catalonia 1998 9 June Buquebus Manhattan Tarifa, Spain 3125 3 d, 9 h, 40 m 38.9
Cat-Link V (or today Master Cat) 1998 20 July Master Ferries 2 d, 20 h, 9 m 41.3

[edit] References & Links