Blue Riband

For use of the related term "Blue Ribbon", see Blue ribbon (disambiguation).

The Blue Riband is the award received by the ship with the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing. The term is believed to have been derived from Cordon Bleu. The first steam-only powered crossing of the Atlantic was in 1838. The Blue Riband was a creation of the transatlantic shipping companies in the 1860s, for the publicity opportunities of possessing the fastest ship. There were separate awards for the fastest eastbound and westbound crossings. It was represented by a blue pennant flown from the topmast of the ship, until 1935 when Sir Harold Keates Hales (1868-1942), a British politician and owner of Hales Brothers shipping company, initiated a trophy.

The Hales Trophy is awarded on the basis of average speed, since the distance of transatlantic routes varies. Theoretically the endpoints could be any port in the Canadian Maritimes or the Eastern Seaboard of the United States in the west, and any port in Ireland, Britain, or western Europe in the east, but traditionally routings considered for transatlantic records tend to involve service to or from New York City. The last "superliner" to hold the trophy was SS United States, which set a time that was not beaten until 1990.

Holders of the Blue Riband

Some of the ships that held the record for the fastest crossing, including those recorded before the Blue Riband was instituted, with the date first achieved:

Westbound

Steamer	Year	Dates	Line	From	To	Nautical Miles	Days, hours, minutes	Knots
	1838	4 April–22 April	B&A	Cork	Sandy Hook	3583	18 d, 14 h, 22 m	8.03
	1838	8 April–23 April	GW	Avonmouth	New York	3220	15 d, 12 h, 0 m	8.66
	1838	2 June–17 June	GW	Avonmouth	New York	3140	14 d, 16 h, 0 m	8.92
	1839	18 May–31 May	GW	Avonmouth	New York	3086	13 d, 12 h, 0 m	9.52
	1841	4 June–15 June	Cunard	Liverpool	Halifax	(2534)	10 d, 19 h, 0 m	(9.78)
	1843	29 April–11 May	GW	Liverpool	New York	3068	12 d, 18 h, 0 m	10.03
Cambria	1845	19 July–29 July	Cunard	Liverpool	Halifax	(2534)	9 d, 20 h, 30 m	(10.71)
America	1848	3 June–12 June	Cunard	Liverpool	Halifax	(2534)	9 d, 0 h, 16 m	(11.71)
Europa	1848	14 October–23 October	Cunard	Liverpool	Halifax	(2534)	8 d, 23 h, 0 m	(11.79)
Asia	1850	18 May–27 May	Cunard	Liverpool	Halifax	(2534)	8 d, 14 h, 50 m	(12.25)
Pacific	1850	11 September–21 September	Collins	Liverpool	New York	(3050)	10 d, 4 h, 45 m	(12.46)
Baltic	1851	6 August–16 August	Collins	Liverpool	New York	3039	9 d, 19 h, 26 m	12.91
Baltic	1854	28 June–7 July	Collins	Liverpool	New York	3037	9 d, 16 h, 52 m	13.04
Persia	1856	19 April–29 April	Cunard	Liverpool	Sandy Hook	(3045)	9 d, 16 h, 16 m	(13.11)
Scotia	1863	19 July–27 July	Cunard	Queenstown	New York	(2820)	8 d, 3 h, 0 m	(14.46)
	1872	17 May–25 May	W.Star	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2778	7 d, 23 h, 17 m	14.53
	1875	30 July–7 August	W.Star	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2800	7 d, 23 h, 7 m	14.65
City Of Berlin	1875	17 September–25 September	Inman	Queenstown	Sandy Bank	2829	7 d, 18 h, 2 m	15.21
	1876	27 October–4 November	W.Star	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2795	7 d, 13 h, 11 m	15.43
	1877	6 April–13 April	W.Star	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2830	7 d, 11 h, 37 m	15.76
Alaska	1882	9 April–16 April	Guion	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2802	7 d, 6 h, 20 m	16.07
Alaska	1882	14 May–21 May	Guion	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2871	7 d, 4 h, 12 m	16.67
Alaska	1882	18 June–25 June	Guion	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2886	7 d, 1 h, 58 m	16.98
Alaska	1883	29 April–6 May	Guion	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2844	6 d, 23 h, 48 m	17.05
Oregon	1884	13 April–19 April	Guion	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2861	6 d, 10 h, 10 m	18.56
	1885	16 August–22 August	Cunard	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2801	6 d, 5 h, 31 m	18.73
	1887	29 May–4 June	Cunard	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2848	6 d, 4 h, 12 m	19.22
	1888	27 May–2 June	Cunard	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2854	6 d, 1 h, 55 m	19.56
	1889	2 May–8 May	I&I	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2855	5 d, 23 h, 7 m	19.95
	1889	22 August–28 August	I&I	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2788	5 d, 19 h, 18 m	20.01
	1891	30 July–5 August	W.Star	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2777	5 d, 18 h, 8 m	20.10
	1891	13 August–19 August	W.Star	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2778	5 d, 16 h, 31 m	20.35
	1892	20 July–27 July	I&I	Queenstown	Sandy Book	2785	5 d, 15 h, 58 m	20.48
	1892	13 October–18 October	I&I	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2782	5 d, 14 h, 24 m	20.70
	1893	18 June–23 June	Cunard	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2864	5 d, 15 h, 37 m	21.12
	1894	12 August–17 August	Cunard	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2776	5 d, 9 h, 29 m	21.44
	1894	26 August–31 August	Cunard	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2787	5 d, 8 h, 38 m	21.65
	1894	23 September–28 September	Cunard	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2782	5 d, 7 h, 48 m	21.75
	1894	21 October–26 October	Cunard	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2779	5 d, 7 h, 23 m	21.81
	1898	30 March–3 April	NDL	Needles	Sandy Hook	3120	5 d, 20 h, 0 m	22.29
	1900	6 July–12 July	Hapag	Eddystone	Sandy Hook	3044	5 d, 15 h, 46 m	22.42
	1900	26 August–1 September	Hapag	Cherbourg	Sandy Hook	3050	5 d, 12 h, 29 m	23.02
	1901	26 July–1 August	Hapag	Cherbourg	Sandy Hook	3141	5 d, 16 h, 12 m	23.06
Kronprinz Wilhelm	1902	10 September–16 September	NDL	Cherbourg	Sandy Hook	3047	5 d, 11 h, 57 m	23.09
	1903	2 September–8 September	Hapag	Cherbourg	Sandy Hook	3054	5 d, 11 h, 54 m	23.15
	1907	6 October–10 October	Cunard	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2780	4 d, 19 h, 52 m	23.99
	1908	17 May–21 May	Cunard	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2889	4 d, 20 h, 22 m	24.83
	1908	5 July–10 July	Cunard	Queenstown	Sandy Hook	2891	4 d, 19 h, 36 m	25.01
	1909	8 August–12 August	Cunard	Queenstown	Ambrose	2890	4 d, 16 h, 40 m	25.65
	1909	26 September–30 September	Cunard	Queenstown	Ambrose	2784	4 d, 10 h, 51 m	26.06
	1929	17 July–22 July	NDL	Cherbourg	Ambrose	3164	4 d, 17 h, 42 m	27.83
	1930	20 March–25 March	NDL	Cherbourg	Ambrose	3157	4 d, 17 h, 6 m	27.91
	1933	27 June–2 July	NDL	Cherbourg	Ambrose	3149	4 d, 16 h, 48 m	27.92
	1933	11 August–16 August	Italian	Gibraltar	Ambrose	3181	4 d, 13 h, 58 m	28.92
	1935	30 May–3 June	CGT	Bishop Rock	Ambrose	2971	4 d, 3 h, 2 m	29.98
	1936	20 August–24 August	C-WS	Bishop Rock	Ambrose	2907	4 d, 0 h, 27 m	30.14
	1937	29 July–2 August	CGT	Bishop Rock	Ambrose	2906	3 d, 23 h, 2 m	30.58
	1938	4 August–8 August	C-WS	Bishop Rock	Ambrose	2907	3 d, 21 h, 48 m	30.99
	1952	11 July–15 July	USL	Bishop Rock	Ambrose	2906	3 d, 12 h, 12 m	34.51

Eastbound

Steamer	Year	Dates	Line	From	To	Nautical Miles	Days, hours, minutes	Knots
	1838	1 May–19 May	B&A	New York	Falmouth	(3159)	(18/0/0)	(7.31)
	1838	7 May–22 May	GW	New York	Avonmouth	3218	14 d, 15 h, 59 m	9.14
	1838	25 June–8 July	GW	New York	Avonmouth	3099	12 d, 16 h, 34 m	10.17
	1840	4 August–14 August	Cunard	Halifax	Liverpool	(2610)	9 d, 21 h, 44 m	(10.98)
	1842	28 April–11 May	GW	New York	Liverpool	3248	12 d, 7 h, 30 m	10.99
Columbia	1843	4 April–14 April	Cunard	Halifax	Liverpool	(2534)	9 d, 12 h, 0 m	(11.11)
Hibernia	1843	18 May–27 May	Cunard	Halifax	Liverpool	(2534)	9 d, 10 h, 44 m	(11.18)
Hibernia	1843	18 July–27 July	Cunard	Halifax	Liverpool	(2534)	8 d, 22 h, 44 m	(11.80)
Canada	1849	19 July–28 July	Cunard	Halifax	Liverpool	(2534)	8 d, 12 h, 44 m	(12.38)
Pacific	1851	10 May–20 May	Collins	New York	Liverpool	(3078)	9 d, 20 h, 14 m	(13.03)
Arctic	1852	7 February–17 February	Collins	New York	Liverpool	3051	9 d, 17 h, 15 m	13.06
Persia	1856	2 April–12 April	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Liverpool	(3048)	9 d, 10 h, 22 m	(13.46)
Persia	1856	14 May–23 May	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Liverpool	(3048)	9 d, 3 h, 24 m	(13.89)
Persia	1856	6 August–15 August	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Liverpool	(3046)	8 d, 23 h, 19 m	(14.15)
Scotia	1863	16 December–24 December	Cunard	New York	Queenstown	(2800)	8 d, 5 h, 42 m	(14.16)
City of Brussels	1869	4 December–12 December	Inman	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	(2780)	7 d, 20 h, 33 m	(14.74)
	1873	11 January–19 January	W.Star	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2840	7 d, 20 h, 9 m	15.09
City of Berlin	1875	2 October–10 October	Inman	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2820	7 d, 15 h, 28 m	15.37
	1876	5 February–13 February	W.Star	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2894	7 d, 15 h, 17 m	15.79
	1876	16 December–24 December	W.Star	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2892	7 d, 12 h, 41 m	15.94
	1879	22 July–29 July	Guion	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2810	7 d, 8 h, 11 m	15.96
Alaska	1882	30 May–6 June	Guion	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	(2791)	6 d, 22 h, 0 m	(16.81)
Alaska	1882	12 September–19 September	Guion	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2781	6 d, 18 h, 37 m	17.10
Oregon	1884	29 March–5 April	Guion	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2916	7 d, 2 h, 18 m	17.12
Oregon	1884	26 April–3 May	Guion	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	291	6 d, 16 h, 57 m	18.09
Oregon	1884	30 July–6 August	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2853	6 d, 12 h, 54 m	18.18
Oregon	1884	3 September–10 September	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2853	6 d, 11 h, 9 m	18.39
	1885	1 August–7 August	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2822	6 d, 9 h, 0 m	18.44
	1888	7 July–14 July	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2981	6 d, 4 h, 50 m	19.36
	1889	15 May–22 May	I&I	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2894	6 d, 0 h, 29 m	20.03
	1892	17 August–23 August	I&I	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2814	5 d, 19 h, 57 m	20.11
	1893	6 May–12 May	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2928	5 d, 17 h, 27 m	21.30
	1894	6 May–12 May	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2911	3 d, 13 h, 28 m	21.81
	1894	2 June–8 June	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2911	5 d, 12 h, 59 m	21.90
	1895	18 May–24 May	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2897	5 d, 11 h, 40 m	22.00
	1897	23 November–29 November	NDL	Sandy Hook	Needles	3065	5 d, 17 h, 23 m	22.33
	1900	18 July–24 July	Hapag	Sandy Hook	Eddystone	3085	5 d, 15 h, 5 m	22.84
	1900	4 September–10 September	Hapag	Sandy Hook	Eddystone	2981	5 d, 7 h, 38 m	23.36
	1901	13 June–19 June	Hapag	Sandy Hook	Eddystone	3083	5 d, 11 h, 51 m	23.38
	1901	10 July–17 July	Hapag	Sandy Hook	Eddystone	3082	5 d, 11 h, 5 m	23.51
	1904	14 June–20 June	NDL	Sandy Hook	Eddystone	3112	5 d, 11 h, 58 m	23.58
	1907	19 October–24 October	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2807	4 d, 22 h, 53 m	23.61
	1907	30 November–5 December	Cunard	Beady Hook	Queenstown	2807	4 d, 22 h, 33 m	23.69
	1908	25 January–30 January	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2932	5 d, 2 h, 41 m	23.90
	1908	7 March–12 March	Cunard	Sandy Hook	Queenstown	2932	5 d, 0 h, 5 m	24.42
	1909	3 February–8 February	Cunard	Ambrose	Queenstown,	2930	4 d, 20 h, 27 m	25.16
	1909	17 March–22 March	Cunard	Ambrose	Queenstown	2934	4 d, 18 h, 35 m	25.61
	1909	5 May–10 May	Cunard	Ambrose	Queenstown	2934	4 d, 18 h, 11 m	25.70
	1909	16 June–21 June	Cunard	Ambrose	Queenstown	2933	4 d, 17 h, 21 m	25.88
	1924	20 August–25 August	Cunard	Ambrose	Cherbourg	3198	5 d, 1 h, 49 m	26.25
	1929	27 July–1 August	NDL	Ambrose	Eddystone	3084	4 d, 14 h, 30 m	27.91
	1933	10 June–15 June	NDL	Ambrose	Cherbourg	3199	4 d, 16 h, 15 m	28.51
	1935	7 June–11 June	CGT	Ambrose	Bishop Rock	3015	4 d, 3 h, 25 m	30.31
	1936	26 August–30 August	C-WS	Ambrose	Bishop Rock	2939	3 d, 23 h, 57 m	30.63
	1937	18 March–22 March	CGT	Ambrose	Bishop Rock	2967	4 d, 0 h, 6 m	30.99
	1937	4 August–8 August	CGT	Ambrose	Bishop Rock	2936	3 d, 22 h, 7 m	31.20
	1938	10 August–14 August	C-WS	Ambrose	Bishop Rock	2938	3 d, 20 h, 42 m	31.69
	1952	3 July–7 July	USL	Ambrose	Bishop Rock	2942	3 d, 10 h, 40 m	35.59
Hoverspeed Great Britain	1990	23 June	Aegean Speedlines				3 d, 7 h, 54 m	36.6
Catalonia	1998	9 June	Buquebus	Manhattan	Tarifa, Spain	3125	3 d, 9 h, 40 m	38.9
Cat-Link V (or today Fjord Cat)	1998	20 July	Master Ferries				2 d, 20 h, 9 m	41.3

References and links

• Arnd Stroeh From Superliners to Airliners. Retrieved on 2008-01-02..
• Jeff Newman The Blue Riband of the North Atlantic, westbound and eastbound holders. greatships.net. Retrieved on 2008-01-02..
• which citesN.R.P. Bonsor North Atlantic Seaway, Vol. 5.
• Danish ferry sets new Atlantic-crossing record!!. American VULKAN Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-01-02..
• The Hales Trophy. Sea Containers Ltd. Retrieved on 2008-01-02..
• Kludas, Arnold Record breakers of the North Atlantic — Blue Riband Liners 1838-1952. London: Chatham Publishing.
• Michael Pocock Information about the Kronprinz Wilhelm's award-winning voyage. Maritime Quest. Retrieved on 2008-01-02..