SS City of New York, also known as SS New York, was an ocean liner originally operated by the Inman Line and later operated by the American Line (as SS New York) and the US Navy (as the USS Harvard and the USS Plattsburg). The SS New York was Constructed by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland, launched in March 15, 1888 and began her maiden voyage on August 1, 1888. She briefly held the Blue Riband for eastbound crossing in 1892 until Cunard liner Campania won in 1893. New York served for an astonishing 34 years until 1922 when she was sold for scrap.

When the Inman Line was purchased by the International Navigation Company, who already owned the Red Star Line and the American Line, they had the funds to compete with shipping giants Cunard and White Star. City of New York was launched and christened on March 15, 1888 and five months later, she began her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York. City of New York and her sister City of Paris were the largest passenger ships of their day. She was not only the largest, but also the most luxurious and she was fitted with running hot and cold water, electric ventilation, and electric lighting. Her First Class public rooms, such as library and smoking room, were fitted with walnut panels and her dining salon came with a massive dome that provided a natural light to the passengers.

In 1892, City of New York managed to outrun her sister City of Paris and won a Blue Riband for eastbound crossing and this was the final year serving under the Inman Line. In the same year the British government stopped susbsidising both the City of Paris and the City of New York. The only way to solve a potential financial crisis was to transfer them to the American Line. Transferring both ships was not easy, as there is a law that protects the American shipbuilding industry. It required that any American flagged vessel to be built in the United States. However, US congress granted the International Navigation Company's request an exception to transfer both ships to the American Line in exchange to have their new liners, St. Louis and St. Paul to serve in war if needed. Now under the American Line, City of New York was renamed to New York. She sailed from New York to Southampton for five years.

USS Harvard

When the United States declared war on Spain in 1898, the US Government requisitioned New York to serve as an auxiliary cruiser. She was re-named to USS Harvard and commissioned on April 26, 1898. After the war, she was decommissioned on September 2, 1898.

Return to service

In January of 1899, New York' resumed her civilan service with the New York-Southampton run. During her first post-war crossing, one of her engines broke down and she had to brought down to Southampton for repairs for three months. New York's return to service was cut short when she was taken out service for an extensive refit. Her engines were replaced with a newer one and replaced her three funnels with two taller funnels. She resumed her service in April 14, 1903.

On April 10, 1912, while berthed in Southampton beside the Oceanic, New York, secured by three-inch steel hawsers, was torn from her moorings by the Titanic as the larger and heavier ship sailed by. A collision was narrowly avoided when Titanic's captain, Edward Smith, immediately ordered the port propeller in reverse and a nearby tugboat operator towed New York away from the Titanic.

In 1913, she was re-configured as a Second and Third Class only liner and a year later she was transferred from her usual Southampton-New York to the Liverpool-New York run.

USS Plattsburg

The US Navy commissioned her as USS Plattsburg when United States declared war on Germany in 1918.

Post World War and Demise

After World War I, with one of her masts removed, New York resumed her passenger service in 1920. She remained with the American Line for nine months until she was sold to the Polish Navigation Company. She retained her name and after serving one voyage, her new owner went bankrupt. She was seized by the creditors and sold to the Irish American Line in 1922. She didn't stay long and she was sold to the United Transatlantic Line and again to the American Black Sea Line. Her last Atlantic crossing was on June 10, 1922 from New York to Naples and Constantinople and later that year she was sold for scrap.