14th January 1899
Oceanic is launched
The Oceanic, the largest ship in the world, was launched from Harland & Wolff. The Freeman's Journal newspaper described it as "...the greatest event of its kind the world has ever witnessed, and in a certain sense, perhaps the most epoch-making incident of the century."
The launch of the ship was a great achievement for Harland & Wolff, who during the 1890s had become one of the UK's biggest shipbuilders.
The company was established in the 1850s and became famous for its innovative design and construction methods. It concentrated on producing large, ocean-going vessels, particularly high quality passenger ships.
