SS Atlantic was a transatlantic ocean liner of the White Star Line that operated between Liverpool, United Kingdom, and New York City, United States. During the ship's 19th voyage, on 1 April 1873, she struck rocks and sank off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, killing at least 535 people. It remained the deadliest civilian maritime disaster in the North Atlantic Ocean until the sinking of on 2 July 1898 and the greatest disaster for the White Star Line prior to the loss of in April 1912. History Atlantic was built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast in 1870, as one of the four liners. The other vessels were , and . She was the second ship of the class. The four liners were built for the newly created Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, commonly referred to as the White Star Line. Her primary propulsion was a four cylinder compound condensing steam engine producing driving a single propeller giving her a speed of . The engines were made by George Forrester and Company at the Vauxhall foundry, Liverpool. To communicate from the bridge to the engine room she was fitted with a telegraph. Steering was by Forrester's steam steering apparatus, as fitted to . For auxiliary propulsion she was rigged as a four-masted barque. With a length of between perpendiculars ( overall) and a beam of , she was slim with an aspect ratio of 1:10. Atlantic had a depth of hold of and was 3,707 tons register. She had three decks and five bulkheads extending from keelson to maindeck. The four sister ships were luxurious with a standard unseen on any previous vessel. Two classes of accommodation were available. Cabin class was amidships with a saloon measuring long and the full of the ship's beam. The staterooms were forward of the saloon with provision for four berth en suite accommodation as well as double cabins. The lavatories were provided with running water and the bathrooms had water heated by steam when required. Cabin class passengers were free to come on deck. There was also provision for 1,000 steerage passengers. Single males were housed forward of the cabin class area, aft of cabin class was reserved for single females and married couples. Steerage class passengers did not have access to the decks. She sailed for New York City on her maiden voyage on 8 June 1871. For her return trip (starting