The 18,724-ton passenger ship Laurentic (Yard No. 470) was launched today for the Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., Liverpool (White Star Line).
Her launch was the biggest event to take place at Belfast for the year to date and but for delays caused by industrial action in 1926, the vessel would have been in the water nine months earlier.
Bad weather marred the otherwise successful launch, the huge hull being pulled up within 50 seconds of entering the water. Viscountess Pirrie was an interested spectator, but as with Company policy, there was no ceremony of any kind and beyond the presence of W. J. Willett Bruce, White Star’s Marine Superintendent and one or two Company officials, there was not even a launching party.
The triple-screw vessel was intended to operate on the Canadian service out of Liverpool and with her running mate Albertic; the two were the largest Cabin Class liners employed in the trade.