Ships of state

摘要

Representing a unique synthesis of engineering, architectural, decorative and cultural elements, Ocean Liner had always been a floating national symbol. Even when built by foreign yards, liners assumed a national identity through their decor, artwork, crew and cuisine. Today's cruise ships are definitively international, but the ocean liners of the 20th century often assumed the mantle of 'Ship of State', fulfilling a role in national prestige as a symbol for countries large and small. It is worth recalling that in 1914, Great Britain owned 41 per cent of the world's tonnage and her shipyards built an even a greater percentage. The concept of a 'ship of state' was thus superfluous to some degree since, save for Germans, most of the world's biggest and fastest ships were just assumed to fly the Red Duster. Since the end of World War I, however, the maritime fortunes of the United States, Japan, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy steadily rose. So much so that by the time the century had reach midpoint the percentage of British tonnage had fallen to 23 per cent whereas foreign tonnage had doubled. Thus to the renascent maritime powers, the concept of a symbolic flagship, especially one built in home yards and designed, decorated and fitted out domestically, assumed enormous importance. So much so that the best foreign liners not only matched their British competitors in size and performance but often exceeded them in innovation and style.