SS Traffic (1872) - OUTDATED

SS Traffic was a baggage tender of the White Star Line, built in 1872 by Philip Speakman in Runcorn. She was based at the Port of Liverpool, and maintained a 24-year career with White Star. Traffic briefly served as a cargo vessel, but soon returned to tendering service.

In 1896, Traffic was sold to the Liverpool Lighterage Co., where she served for fifty-nine years in reliable service. On 5th May 1941 she was sunk in Liverpool docks by German aircraft during the 'May Blitz'. She was later raised and returned to service, she was broken up at Tranmere in 1955, at an age of eighty-two years. Traffic is perhaps the earliest (if not one of the earliest) examples of a ship's tender, having been built in the 1870s. She was also possibly the only baggage tender used by the White Star Line until the company purchased SS Gallic (ex-Birkenhead) in 1907 (Wikipedia, 2019).

History
Name:	SS Traffic
Owner:	White Star Line (1872–1896) Liverpool Lighterage Co. (1896–1955)
Builder:	Philip Speakman, Runcorn
Yard number:	Belvedere Yard
Launched:	1872
Fate:	Scrapped 1955
General characteristics
Type:	Ship's tender
Length:	108 ft
Beam:	23 ft 3 inc
Depth:	10 ft 3 inc
Installed power:	40 hp
Propulsion:	Steam engine by W P Gaulton of Manchester
Speed:	8 knots