Editing RMS Baltic (section)

==Conception and construction==
[[File:RMS Baltic construction.jpg|thumb|left|''Baltic'' under construction, {{circa}} [[November 1903]]]]
In the late 1890s and shortly before his death, [[Thomas Henry Ismay]], chairman of the White Star Line, initiated a policy shift away from the race for speed to focus on slower but larger ships, compensating for the loss of speed through great savings, increased comfort, and better passenger capacity. This initiative gave rise, in 1901, to the ordering of the series of liners dubbed the "[[Big Four (White Star Line)|Big Four]]": the ''Celtic'', followed two years later by the ''Cedric''. When the latter was launched, a third ship was just under construction at the [[Harland and Wolff]] shipyards in Belfast: the ''Baltic'' (the quartet to be completed in 1907 by the ''Adriatic'').<ref name=RA89>{{harvnb|Anderson|1964|p=89}}</ref> She was the second ship to bear this name (in reference to the [[Baltic Sea]]) in the company's fleet; [[SS Baltic (1871)|the first]] having been one of its very first liners, in the 1870s.<ref>{{harvnb|de Kerbrech|2009|pp=16–17}}</ref>

The ''Baltic'' was originally supposed to be the same size as her two predecessors, but rather quickly, the company decided that this ship, built under hull number 352, was to be the largest ever built, requiring enlargement of the ship. This task was not easy as the hull was already built; the ship was nevertheless cut in two and the rear part set back nearly six metres to make room for an addition. This ultimately increased her tonnage by nearly 3,000 tons, giving more space to passengers.<ref>{{harvnb|de Kerbrech|2009|p=122}}</ref>

The liner was launched on 21 November 1903. ''[[The Illustrated London News]]'' reported that the ''Baltic'' was christened by actress [[Julia Neilson]].<ref name=RK123>{{harvnb|de Kerbrech|2009|p=123}}</ref> Completed the following spring, the liner reached Liverpool on 23 June 1904 to be delivered to its owner.<ref name=DH58>{{harvnb|Haws|1990|p=58}}</ref>