In 1838, Samuel Cunard won a British government contract to transport mail across the north Atlantic. He commissioned four sailing ships, including Britannia – a square-rigged ship with paddle wheels. Previously, people who dared to cross the Atlantic travelled in small sailing ships, named ‘coffin ships’ because of their accommodation. Cunard provided luxurious interiors in its vessels, creating the first purpose-built ocean liners. She was an immediate success and helped to prove that money could be made in moving goods across the Atlantic.

American Collins line became Cunard’s first competitors in 1845. Collins gained a mail subsidy from the United States government and was able to construct vessels that were faster and more luxurious than Cunard’s. Between 1850 and 1851, the Pacific had taken the Blue Riband from Cunard vessels. Collins sometimes drove his ships excessive speeds and often paid large costs for broken machinery. Arctic sank in 1854 after a collision in which over 300 died, including members of the Collins family. Sister ship Pacific went missing in the mid-Atlantic. Passengers no longer trusted Collins line and returned to Cunard’s ships.

Adriatic

Scotia

In 1856, Cunard’s Persia became the first new-design iron ship to take the Blue Riband, in just over 9 days. She could be longer and carry more cargo than her wooden predecessors. Technological advance continued in the development of the screw propeller, adopted by Inman and White Star ships. Screw ships like Adriatic, Britannic and Germanic quickly made crossings in less than a week. Cunard soon caught up – their last paddle steamer, Scotia, was withdrawn in the 1860s.

The propeller was a turning point in steam navigation. Many new lines appeared on the Atlantic, taking advantage of this new technology, including Norddeutscher Lloyd, Hamburg - America and French Line (CGT). The twin screw was introduced in the 1880s and powered Blue Riband holders including City of Paris, Majestic and Campania.

The arrival of the turbine in 1904 brought greater speed and powered famous record-breakers like Cunard’s Lusitania. Cunard’s dominance of the Riband continued with Mauretania, which added the westbound record to her eastbound record in 1909. In 70 years, transatlantic crossings had changed from being dangerous adventures in wooden ships taking nearly three weeks, to regular sailings in strong, safe 30,000-ton liners taking only a few days.

Lusitania

Majestic

Following World War 1, money was not available for liner development, so there were no competitors to Mauritania’s title. She would hold the Blue Riband for over twenty years.

Steamship pioneers

Shrinking the Atlantic

The Hales trophy

How to win the Riband

The great liners do battle

Riband reborn

Hall of Fame