The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company Limited (the parent company of the White Star Line) was registered on this day at Liverpool. The company's founder and second chairman, Thomas Henry Ismay, developed the White Star Line, in collaboration with the shipbuilders Harland & Wolff, into one of the largest and most prestigious shipping companies in the history of steam navigation.

From the company's first ship, Oceanic, almost the entire fleet were designed and constructed at Belfast, many the largest, fastest and most technically advance passenger vessels of their age. The contribution Thomas Henry Ismay (1837-1899) made to the industrial development and prosperity of Belfast was recognised with him being made a Freeman of the City.

The iron sailing ship Lord Wolseley (Yard No. 157) was delivered today to the Irish Shipowners Co. The 2,576-ton vessel was one of this largest ships afloat, the other two being W. J. Pirrie (Yard No. 120) and Fingal (Yard No. 156), the former at the time being built for S. Lawther and the latter for R. Martin & Co., Dublin.

Lord Wolseley was the first vessel built for the Company formed only in January of the same year with a large capital and an impressive list of ship-owning directors: Sir Edward Porter Cowan, JP; Sir John Preston, JP; John Ward, Thomas Shaw and D. Dixon and T. S. Dixon, JP, as Managers. ‘The well-known character of the Messrs. Dixon for the energy and success with which they carry out every undertaking in which they may be engaged secured for the company very extensive support on all hands, and soon the share list was complete.’ (see: 21 July 1883)

The passenger ship Devonian (Yard No. 331) was delivered today to Frederick Leyland & Co. Ltd. The 10,417-ton vessel was a sister ship of Winifredian (Yard No. 324). Both vessels had accommodation for about 140 1st Class passengers and space for 820 head of cattle.

‘Bay’ class frigate HMS Start Bay was delivered today to the Admiralty. The 1,600-ton vessel was laid down as the ‘Loch’ class frigate HMS Loch Arkley, but converted to the new class and renamed before completion.

The 191,000-ton supertanker Myrina (Yard No. 1,666), the largest ship ever built in Europe at the time, was launched today for Deutsche Shell A.G.

VIDEO: Click here to watch a British Pathe newsreel of Myrina's launch

The 126,535-ton supertanker Esso Caledonia (Yard No. 1,677) was delivered today to the Esso Petroleum Co.