SS Frankfurt

The SS Frankfurt was a German steamship originally operated by Norddeutscher Lloyd. First launched on 17 December 1899, Frankfurt took frequent passages between Germany and the United States from 1900 to 1918. Many of its passengers were migrants.[1] In 1919, Frankfurt was acquired by the White Star Line after it was surrendered to the United Kingdom in World War I. In 1922, Frankfurt was then sold to the Oriental Navigation Company in Hong Kong, where it was renamed Sarvistan, before its eventually being scrapped in Japan in 1931.[2][3]

This article is about German 1899 vessel that was involved in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. For the cruiser that participated in World War I, see SMS Frankfurt.
History
German Empire
Name: SS Frankfurt
Owner: Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd)
Port of registry: Bremen, German Empire
Builder: Joh. C. Tecklenborg, Geestemunde, German Empire
Yard number: 169
Launched: 17 December 1899
Maiden voyage: 31 March 1900
In service: 1900–1914
Out of service: 1919
Fate: Surrendered to the United Kingdom
History
United Kingdom
Name: SS Frankfurt
Owner: White Star Line (1919–1922)
Port of registry: Liverpool, United Kingdom
Acquired: 1919
In service: 1919
Out of service: 1922
Fate: Sold to the Oriental Navigation Company
History
Hong Kong
Name: SS Sarvistan
Owner: Oriental Navigation Company
Port of registry: Hong Kong
Acquired: 1922
In service: 1922
Out of service: 1931
Fate: Scrapped in Japan
General characteristics
Class and type: Steamship
Tonnage: 7,341 tons
Length: 430 ft 3 in (131.1 m)
Beam: 54 ft 3 in (16.5 m)
Propulsion: One funnel, twin screw, two masts
Speed: 13 kn (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Capacity: 2,007

In 1912, it was one of the first ships to respond to the distress signals from RMS Titanic.[4]

History

The Frankfurt was built by Joh. C. Tecklenborg in Geestemunde (present-day Bremerhaven, Germany), and the second of its namesake to be launched for Norddeutscher Lloyd[5][a] on 17 December 1899. Most of the ship's activity prior to the First World War was transporting mainly German and Austrian migrants to the United States.[1] On 31 March 1900, its maiden voyage started from Bremen to Baltimore. On 25 December 1901, Frankfurt took the first trip to Galveston, Texas, after which it took frequent trips from Bremen to either Baltimore, Galveston, or both. In 1908, it sailed to South America. Then, starting in 1910, it started the first of many voyages from Bremen to Philadelphia to Galveston. In 1914, it took voyages from Bremen, to Boston, and then to New Orleans.[6] At the conclusion of the First World War, Frankfurt was surrendered to the United Kingdom and was acquired by the White Star Line in 1919. In 1922, the ship was sold to the Oriental Navigation Company in British Hong Kong and renamed Sarvistan. In 1931, it was scrapped in Japan.

Sinking of the RMS Titanic
Main article: Sinking of the RMS Titanic

At 12:18 AM on 15 April 1912, while eastbound from Galveston to Bremerhaven,[3] Frankfurt was the first vessel to respond to distress signals from the RMS Titanic.[4] Under the orders of Captain Edward John Smith, Titanic's wireless operator, Jack Phillips, tried to reach out to Frankfurt to acknowledge his position.[7] However, Frankfurt's operator, W. Zippel, had not heard the first distress call and was instead making routine calls for the night. Sixteen minutes after Phillips sent Titanic's second position report to Frankfurt, they responded, saying, "What's up, old man?"

Phillips, frustrated that the Frankfurt had seemed not to have known the situation the whole time after receiving Titanic's first distress call, says back to them, "You fool! You stand by and keep out!"

George Behe of the Titanic Historical Society pointed out that Zippel, at the time of Phillips' outrage, was well aware of the seriousness of Titanic's situation. At 1:35 AM, Titanic's wireless transmitter lost power, hence debilitating her communication with Frankfurt and many other ships responding to her distress calls. As Frankfurt was no longer receiving calls from Titanic, Zippel tried to regain contact with her with the message that had unintentionally angered Phillips.[8]

Regardless, once the Titanic's situation was realized, according to Überall (a German magazine), the Frankfurt's captain, Hattorff, steered toward the Titanic's position at full speed. He ordered the ship's galley to bake bread and the crew to provide blankets for the passengers they would rescue. At 1:28 AM, they confirmed that they are coming. Captain Hattorff estimated that by the given coordinates, he could make it to the site by 2:00 AM or earlier. Even though Hattorff did not know the actual scope of the situation, he assumed it to be the worst with the limited details he had.

It was later revealed, however, that Phillips miscalculated Titanic's coordinates, and, at 1:47 AM, the Frankfurt expressed confusion. Ultimately, Frankfurt had not been able to come to Titanic's assistance despite being only 20 miles away and the closest ship to respond to the British liner.[9]

The Frankfurt was the first to notify the SS Californian, the closest ship to the Titanic, that it had sank overnight.[10]

Annotations
  1. ^
    There was a previous ship owned by Norddeutscher Lloyd also called Frankfurt built in 1829 by Caird & Co. in Greenock, Scotland, and scrapped in La Spezia, Italy, in 1897, two years before the launching of the newer SS Frankfurt in 1899. It had a similar career to that of her sister taking transatlantic voyages from Bremerhaven to cities like New Orleans and also once had a voyage to South America. However, unlike her younger sister, the older Frankfurt sailed to New York City and even Havana, Cuba.[5][1]
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References
  1. Crawford, J.D. "SS Frankfurt". Immigrant Ships.
  2. "S.S. Frankfurt". DeepRoots.
  3. "Frankfurt". Titanic Inquiry Project.
  4. Milford, Joshua. "First to Respond- SS Frankfurt". jmilford-titanic.com.
  5. Meÿer, Peter. My Scheessel Relatives (1 ed.). Pressbooks.
  6. "Re: [TSL] SS Frankfurt 02/25/2000: [Posted by swig@ns.sympatico.ca (Gery and Sue Swiggum)]". Oulton.
  7. Breniman, Wm. A. "The Titanic Disaster". The Commercial Dispounder. Retrieved 1929. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. Maltin, Tim. "107 #59: The Frankfurt, 50 miles away, was told 'You fool, standby and keep out' when she contacted Titanic". Tim Maltin.com.
  9. Elverhøi, Peter. "Acquitting the Iceberg". Encyclopedia Titanica.
  10. "Testimony of George F. Stewart, cont". Titanic Inquiry Project. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
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