The MV Georgic 1931 Story of a Passenger Liner

The MV Georgic was a British passenger liner that was launched in 1931. It was built by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The Georgic was designed to be a luxurious cruise ship, with a length of 680 feet and a gross tonnage of 19,700 tons. It had a top speed of 21 knots and could accommodate over 1,000 passengers.

The Georgic was known for its elegant Art Deco interior, which featured intricate wood carvings and ornate furnishings. Its dining rooms, lounges, and staterooms were designed to provide a comfortable and refined experience for passengers.

The ship's maiden voyage took place on July 10, 1932, from Liverpool to New York City.

The MV Georgic was a larger version of its sister ship, the Britannic, with a gross tonnage of 27,759. It had a sleek profile with two squat smokestacks, one of which was a dummy that housed the radio room and engineers' smoke room.

Georgic's powerplant was identical to that of the Britannic, consisting of two 10-cylinder diesel engines that produced 20,000 brake horsepower. This allowed the ship to propel at a design service speed of 18 knots.

Its interiors were decorated in the Art Deco style, which was popular at the time. The ship had a capacity for 479 Cabin class, 557 Tourist class, and 506 Third class passengers.

Here's a summary of the ship's dimensions:

The Georgic's design was a significant improvement over her sister ship, Britannic, with a slightly larger gross tonnage of 27,759.

Her design was influenced by the Art Deco style, which was popular at the time, and was used to decorate the interior of the ship.

The Georgic's powerplant was identical to Britannic's, consisting of two 10-cylinder diesel engines designed by Burmeister & Wain.

These engines were the largest and most powerful of their type, producing 20,000 brake horsepower and propelling the ship at a design service speed of 18 knots.

The ship's design allowed for a design service speed of 18 knots, although she often averaged 18.5 knots in service.

The Georgic's passenger capacities were 479 in Cabin class, 557 in Tourist class, and 506 in Third class.

Her hull was divided into eight holds by twelve main bulkheads, providing ample space for cargo and passengers alike.

Construction of the Georgic began on July 9, 1929, at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

The ship was designed to be a slightly larger version of its sister ship, Britannic, with a gross tonnage of 27,759. Georgic's superstructure and bridge were rounded instead of straight, giving it a distinctive appearance.

The ship's powerplant was identical to Britannic's, consisting of two 10-cylinder diesel engines designed by Burmeister & Wain, which produced 20,000 brake horsepower.

Georgic's interiors were decorated in the Art Deco style, a popular choice at the time. This was a departure from Britannic's varied period styles.

The ship's construction was a significant undertaking, with a total of eight holds and twelve main bulkheads. This division allowed for a combination of passenger and cargo capacity.

Here are the key construction dates for the Georgic:

The ship was finally ready for service after its sea trials, marking the end of a significant construction process.

The MV Georgic had a remarkable wartime career. It was requisitioned by the Admiralty for troopship duties after the outbreak of World War II.

In July 1941, the ship was docked at Port Tewfik when German aircraft attacked, causing extensive damage and a large fire that spread to the ship's dummy funnel holding ammunition.

The fire resulted in a serious explosion, which seriously damaged the stern area of the vessel. The order was given to abandon ship, and Georgic began to sink by the stern.

The ship settled at the bottom of the shallow water and was left to burn out. It wasn't until September 14 that the damage was assessed.

In October, the ship was temporarily repaired by plugging its holes and pumping out the water to refloat the vessel. An inspection of the ship's structure and engines followed.

The decision was made to send the ship back to Harland and Wolff in Belfast for a complete refurbishment into a troopship.

MV Georgic underwent a significant refurbishment after her damage in 1941. Her hull was made watertight, and temporary plugging of the hull was carried out to make her seaworthy.

The ship was then towed to Port Sudan for major structural repairs, which took several months to complete.

Georgic arrived in Bombay in 1942, where further repairs were carried out to make her engines and hull ready for service.

The refurbishment process for the Georgic was a lengthy and complex operation that required careful planning and execution.

In the aftermath of the damage, it was decided that the ship was salvageable, and a salvage and refurbishment operation was undertaken, which took a total of three years.

During this time, the ship underwent temporary repairs, including plugging holes and openings, and pumping out water to refloat the vessel.

The ship was then towed as an abandoned hulk to Port Sudan, where further repairs were carried out, and her hull and engines were made ready for service.

The ship's engines and generators were restored to working order, her stem was straightened, and some crew accommodation was rebuilt on board.

A total of eight months were spent on these essential repairs, which were completed with limited resources.

The ship was then dry docked in Bombay for further repairs, including the repair of damage to her hull, and an overhaul of her machinery.

In December 1942, the ship left Karachi under her own power for Bombay, where she was able to manage a speed of 11 knots.

The ship's rebuild at Harland and Wolff in Belfast involved the removal of over 5,000 tons of fire gutted steel, and the complete rebuilding of her upper decks and superstructure.

This rebuild took 19 months to complete and resulted in a significantly changed appearance for the ship.

The ship's forward funnel and mainmast were removed, and the foremast was shortened to a stump, giving her a distinctive new look.

The Last of the White Star Line was a remarkable ship, the MV Georgic, launched in 1931 at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

It was the largest British motor ship ever built, measuring 711 feet long and boasting a gross register tonnage of 27,759.

The MV Georgic was also notable for being powered by diesel, a more modern and efficient technology compared to steam at the time.

The ship was the last to be built for the White Star Line, a company that later merged with the Cunard Line in 1934.

In fact, the MV Georgic continued its regular service between London and New York until 1940, long after many other ships had been sold off.

The ship's profit margins were impressive, thanks to its lower operating costs, which made it a valuable asset for the Cunard-White Star Line.

MV Georgic remained in service until it was requisitioned on March 11, 1940, marking the end of an era for the White Star Line.

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The MV Georgic was a significant ship in history, and its story begins with its construction at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

The Georgic was built for the White Star Line, which later merged with the Cunard Line. It's worth noting that the Georgic was the last ship built for the White Star Line before this merger took place.

The Georgic was launched on November 12, 1931, marking the beginning of its illustrious career. Its maiden voyage occurred on June 25, 1932.

The ship was originally registered in Southampton, England, and had a unique hull number: 896. Unfortunately, its story eventually came to an end when it was decommissioned in 1956.

Here's a brief summary of the Georgic's key specifications:

The Georgic was a transatlantic ship, equipped with diesel engines and a range of impressive features that made it a notable vessel in its time.