SS Canopic (eng)

Statistics

Gross Tonnage - 12,097 tons
Dimensions - 176.25 x 18.07m (578.3 x 59.3ft)
Number of funnels - 1
Number of masts - 2
Construction - Steel
Propulsion - Twin screw
Engines - Eight cylindered triple expansion engines
Service speed - 16 knots
Builder - Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Launch date - 31 May 1900
Passenger accommodation - 250 1st class, 250 2nd class, 800 3rd class

Details of Career

The ship was originally owned by the Dominion Line and was called the Commonwealth. It was launched on 31 May 1900 and made its maiden voyage for this company on 4 October, from Liverpool to Boston. It made its last voyage on 5 November 1903 before being sold to the White Star Line and renamed Canopic. On 14 January 1904 it made its maiden White Star voyage on the Liverpool to Boston route. From the end of January it transferred to a New York-Mediterranean route, calling at Naples and Genoa.

For most of the World War I period it continued to operate a commercial service, mainly from New York and Boston to the Mediterranean. It was not until 26 April 1917 that the Canopic was taken over under the Liner Requisition Scheme. By February 1919 it had returned to White Star control and began sailing the New York-Mediterranean route again in June. In 1922 it was replaced on this route by the Arabic and subsequently employed on the Liverpool to Montreal service. From November that year, until September 1924, it sailed either from Bremen or Hamburg to New York. In 1924 it made several voyages from Liverpool, firstly to Philadelphia and then to Portland. It final voyage left Liverpool on 20 March 1925. In October it was scrapped at Briton Ferry.