SS Traffic (1872)

She was launched on 22 September 1872, completed by January 1873 and registered on 21 May that year.{{Cite web |title=Screw Steamer TRAFFIC built by Philip Speakman & Co. in 1873 for Oceanic Steam Navigation Co., Ltd., Liverpool, Coaster |url=http://shippingandshipbuilding.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=200531&vessel=TRAFFIC |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=shippingandshipbuilding.uk}} She was outfitted with machinery at the Old Quay Dock by Mr. W. P. Gaulton, an engineer from Manchester. Due to being a single person rather than her company, the fitting out took several months to construct her machinery, and she only entered service four months after launch.{{cite web | url=https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/appropriation?officialnumber=69263 | title=Crew List Index Project }} She was based at the Port of Liverpool, and maintained a 25-year career with White Star. Traffic sometimes served as a cargo vessel, carrying goods from dock to dock, though mainly she was used to tender to the larger liners.

Traffic was replaced by SS Pontic, which entered service in 1894, and was laid up in Hornby Dock by March 1898, and put up for sale.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xj4AAAAAMAAJ&q=%22steam+barge+traffic%22+%22white+star%22 | title=Marine Engineer and Motorship Builder | date=1899 }} She was bought by James Callendar later that year{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-SZjEAAAQBAJ&q=lloyd%27s+register+of+shipping+1898 | title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1898 Steamers | date=January 1898 | publisher=Lloyd's Register }} where she was briefly used, before being sold to the Liverpool Lighterage Company in 1900,{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-yZjEAAAQBAJ&q=Lloyd%27s+Register+of+Shipping+1900 | title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1900 Steamers | date=January 1900 | publisher=Lloyd's Register }} and served for nineteen years as an active barge. During 1919, Traffic was repurposed a sullage barge, and her machinery was removed. On the night of 3 May 1941, she was sunk in the May Blitz at the Canada Dock in Liverpool, and was raised later that October. Due to not appearing on registrations after, it is likely the old and rotten ship was hulked. She was reported to have been broken up at Tranmere by 1955, at an age of eighty-two years.{{cite book|last1=Kerbrech|first1=Richard De|title=Ships of the White Star Line|date=2009|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|page=25|isbn=978-0-7110-3366-5}}

• On 20 March 1873, Traffic loaded 16 tons of coal on board from the Atlantic, which would later sink with great loss of life due to a coal shortage that same voyage.Inquiries of the wreck of the Atlantic
• On 10 January 1878, Traffic was run into by the steamship Maggie Ann after tendering to the RMS Germanic at Liverpool and was sunk. The Maggie Ann damaged the starboard side of the Traffic at Albert pierhead, and was raised and repaired after.Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, April 1878{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Disasters at Sea |date=11 January 1878 |issue=29149 |page=6 |column=E }}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oy9FAQAAMAAJ&dq=traffic+maggie+ann+1878&pg=RA1-PA5 | title=Palmer's Index to "The Times" Newspaper | date=2 March 1878 | publisher=Samuel Palmer. }}
• On 14 April 1881, a porter fell overboard and drowned when attempting to board RMS Germanic at Seacombe{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000081/18810415/015/0006|title=}}
• On 5 January 1886, while hoisting sacks using one of her cranes, a bolt snapped and the crane collapsed, killing one of her crew members.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004035/18860106/058/0003|title=}}
• On April 16, 1890, a fireman on board the Traffic being transported to a liner jumped overboard and swam to the 1856 built paddle-tug Despatch. He was pulled aboard the tug and sent home after being taken by the police.https://www.newspapers.com/image/962470253/?match=1&terms="white%20star%20barge"
• On 3 August 1900, Traffic was towing a Mersey flat during a gale when both vessels foundered, and were refloated.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000164/19000807/037/0004|title=}}
• On 6 August 1900, Livornese of 1871 collided with Traffic when changing docks. Livornese suffered minor damage, but Traffic was sunk. She was refloated shortly after and returned to service.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000104/19000807/034/0006|title=}}
• On 9 August 1915, Kerman was departing Brunswick Dock, when her propeller caught the Traffic. The latter sank, and the former returned to her berth with a damaged propeller.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001634/19150810/132/0010|title=}}
• On 3 May 1941 at night, she was sunk in the East Canada No 2. Branch at Liverpool by German aircraft during the 'May Blitz'. She was with a cargo of boxboards near the cargo ship Bra-Kar, and all 3 crew on Traffic were evacuated before she went down.Steam Tug Kerne Preservation Society{{cite web | url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C13343530 | title=Catalogue description Ship: Traffic, Official Number: 69263. When built: 1873. Registry closed: 1941 }}

• {{SS|Traffic|1911}}
• {{SS|Pontic}}

{{reflist}}

{{White Star Line ships}}

{{1878 shipwrecks}}

{{1900 shipwrecks}}

{{1941 shipwrecks}}

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Category:Service vessels of the United Kingdom

Category:Transport in Liverpool

Category:1872 ships

Category:Ships of the White Star Line

Category:Maritime incidents in January 1878

Category:Maritime incidents in May 1941