RMS Miracle

The RMS Miracle was a passenger-carrying steamship made by the Andersson Line. She was part of the Boon-class, which comprised of 1 other ship. She tragically sank on 28 May, 1909 due to collision with the battleship HMS Storm. She was a triple-screw liner with 2 funnels.

## Background

The Andersson Line was found by brothers, Wilhelm and Olaf Andersson from Norway on 13 June 1891. The brothers had each been part of the board of directors at White Star Line and Cunard Line respectively. They wanted to make a shipping line that would invoke pride in their home country of Norway, so they resigned and got together and formed the company.

As they were both well known and well experienced, soon after the formation of the company, they had hired a full designing crew and acquired a contract that said all their ships were made by Aaberg-Svenson Shipyard in Kristiansand.

After the SS Goldberg was launched in early 1902, it was an utter failure and a very underperforming ship. As it was the company’s biggest ship (at that time), it held a very important status. Nonetheless, they had to scrap it in December of that year. The newly-appointed chief architect, John Miriam proposed a design for originally 4 ships. It was reduced to 2 as the company was facing financial issues because of the Goldberg. Their design was finalised in February 1903 and construction started in May. They were named the Boon-class.

## Construction

Construction started on 4 May in the Aaberg-Svenson Shipyard. It was to be 758 foot long and 38 foot wide. It was Hull No. 762. Over three thousand workers were employed to build the ship. The keel was completed on 12 August. The steel hull was being installed when a nearby warehouse (of another company) caught on fire. As the wind was blowing towards the ship, the fire got in close proximity of the hull. Some parts of the hull collapsed and 5 workers were crushed. The fire was fortunately extinguished before it could collapse other parts. The hull was completed on 21 March 1903. The decks and superstructure were to be completed by late 1904, but a workers strike shifted that date to early 1905. She was launched and christened by Queen Sophia of Nassau on 9 January of that year. It was fitted out with the most lavish interiors and state-of-the-art technology (read below). The construction was finally completed on 4 May 1906, 3 years after the keel was laid and construction began. Even though she was a Norwegian ship and had its port of registry at Kristiansand, it was granted the prefix RMS (Royal Mail Ship) by the United Kingdom.

### Sea Trials

The sea trials commenced on 17 May, with a run to Southampton from Kristiansand and back. The crew was also fully hired. The captain, Herman Nilsson was very experienced and had served on the Cunard Line before transferring to the company. The chief architect John Miriam, was also on board. The only thing that didn’t go to plan is that she was faster than her expected speed. She was designed be 23 knots fast but went 24.5 knots fast. She was ready to set sail.

## Features

### First Class

The ship was designed to be the most luxurious of its time. First class included 2 grand staircases, one went all the way down to G Deck and the other to D Deck. It was decorated with gems and ornate gold.