Ship
Ship

Arizona

The British passenger liner, the SS Arizona, was a record breaking ship that served the Guion Line travelling from Liverpool-Queenstown-New York.

The Guion Line had been operating a successful steerage company but, in 1875, began commissioning liners to compete for first class business. Their first ships had been complete failures. She was built in 1879 by John Elder & Company in Govan, Scotland. She had a gross tonnage of 5147, was 450 ft in length and had a beam of 45.4 ft. When completed, she looked remarkably similar to White Star’s, a rival company, ship the Germanic. The Germanic was the holder of the Blue Riband. However, the Arizona was built to be more powerful and faster with 39 furnaces that consumed 135 tons of coal a day, leaving little space for cargo and steerage passengers. This meant that, in order to attract business, she had to play down her ‘uncomfortableness’ by highlighting her ‘luxury’ interiors.

In 1879, the Arizona won the eastbound Blue Riband for her journey from Sandy Hook to Queenstown. Her record was soon taken by her sister ship Alaska. Later in the same year, en route to Liverpool, she collided with an iceburg. She was able to remain afloat and made it to St John’s where she underwent repairs. The accident was used to showcase her strength. She proved popular for American passengers as the Guion Line was primarily owned by Americans.

In 1881 she transported Oscar Wilde and his friend Lillie Langrty on their first trip to America.

In 1898, after having been in service in Britain, she was sold back to America and was used for US Army Transport. She was refitted and had new triple expansion engines. During the Spanish-American War she was used to transports members of the Army from Hawaii to Manila.

Under the name Hancock, she served as a troopship during the First World War and was scrapped in 1926.

A current reference number/code used to uniquely identify each record.

Unique reference code

LR-FAF-TB3-0089-R

Shipbuilder

J Elder & Co

Date in which construction of the vessel was completed.

Year of build

1879

A ship’s total internal volume in ‘register tons’ (replaced by gross tonnage post 1982).

Gross Register Tonnage

5305

Broad categories and subdivisions of vessels related to their purpose or function.

Type of ship

Passenger Liner

The listed port to which a given vessel belongs.

Port belonging to

London

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LR-FAF-TB3-0082-R_0001.jpg
Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879
Date of document: 20/05/1879
Arizona - 1879
LR-FAF-TB3-0083-R_0001.jpg
Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879
Date of document: 21/05/1879
Arizona - 1879
LR-FAF-TB3-0084-R_0002.jpg
Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879
Date of document: 07/08/1879
Arizona - 1879
LR-FAF-TB3-0085-R_0001.jpg
Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880
Date of document: 16/01/1880
Arizona - 1879
LR-FAF-TB3-0086-R_0002.jpg
Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880
Date of document: 16/01/1880
Arizona - 1879
LR-FAF-TB3-0087-R_0002.jpg
Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898
Date of document: 25/03/1898
Arizona - 1879
LR-FAF-TB3-0088-R_0003.jpg
Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898
Date of document: 28/03/1898
Arizona - 1879
LR-FAF-TB3-0089-R_0001.jpg
Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898
Date of document: 12/04/1898
Arizona - 1879
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Name of ship as recorded on the record

Ship name

Arizona - 1879 ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

The process of transferring a vessel to water, but not necessarily her completion.

Launch Date

10/03/1879 ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

The port or place in which the vessel’s construction took place, at the time of writing.

Place of build

Glasgow ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Abbreviations of the names of ports with Lloyd’s Register survey offices.

Port of survey abbreviations

Gls ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Liv ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879 )

The listed port to which a given vessel belongs.

Port belonging to

Liverpool ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880 )

London ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

An officially licensed mariner (post 1850) holding ultimate command and responsibility for a vessel.

Master

James Price ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880 )

J Panton ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898 )

Location where a vessel’s survey was undertaken.

Location of Survey

Glasgow ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Birkenhead; Liverpool ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879 )

Broad categories and subdivisions of vessels related to their purpose or function.

Ship type

Passenger Liner ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Predominant material(s) utilised in a vessel’s construction.

Material of construction

Iron ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

A ship’s total internal volume in ‘register tons’ (replaced by gross tonnage post 1982).

Gross Register Tonnage

5147 ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880 )

5305 ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Is machinery fitted at the aft of the vessel?

Machinery aft?

No ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Generally a smaller additional auxiliary boiler (often used while the vessel is at port).

Is a donkey boiler fitted?

No ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Name of the Proving House responsible for the public testing and certification of a vessel’s anchors and/or chain cables.

Lloyd's Proving House?

No ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

The name of the port/place of destination given.

Destined voyage

Liverpool; New York ( Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880 )

New York ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879 )

Pacific ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898 )

The year in which a vessel’s construction is completed.

Year of ship completion

1879 ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

The individual and/or organisation listed as having been responsible for constructing the vessel. This can/may be the same as the owner and/or manager.

Shipbuilder

J Elder & Co ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

The country in which the vessel’s construction took place, at the time of writing.

Country of build

United Kingdom ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

The country (flag) that a vessel is registered to, at the time of writing.

Country of registration

United Kingdom ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

The individual and/or organisation listed

Ship owner

S B Guion ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880 )

Guion S S Co Ltd ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Name of surveyor.

Surveyor

James Mollison ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880 )

James Purdie ( Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880 )

Edward C Wheeler ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879 )

Samuel J P Thearle; Thomas J Dodd ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898 )

William R Austin ( Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Recorded information related to a vessel’s movements.

Voyage information

Liverpool ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880 )

London ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

A vessel’s means of propulsion.

Propulsion

Steam ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Is the steamer assisted by sail?

Sail assisted steamer

No ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Confirmation as to whether the vessel was equipped with refrigeration machinery to aid in the transport of frozen or chilled cargo/goods.

Refrigeration machinery fitted for cargo purposes?

No ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Does the vessel possess an auxiliary power source?

Auxillary

No ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Is electric lighting fitted to the vessel?

Electric light fitted?

No ( Engineer surveyor's report on machinery for Arizona, 20 May 1879 1879, Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898, Report on machinery for Arizona, 28 March 1898 1898, Report on electric lighting installation for Arizona, 12 April 1898 1898 )

Classification symbol assigned to a vessel by Lloyd’s Register’s Classing Committee denoting the quality of construction and maintenance.

Classification

100A1 ( Iron ship report for Arizona, 21 May 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 7 August 1879 1879, Report of survey for repairs of engines and boilers for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880, Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 16 January 1880 1880 )

+100A1 ( Report of survey for repairs for Arizona, 25 March 1898 1898 )

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