Titanic nearly collided with the SS New York as it departed Southampton.
The ship commonly called SS New York was formally named SS City of New York, an American liner operated by the American Line. On 10 April 1912, Titanic’s enormous displacement and propeller wash disturbed water around nearby vessels as she left her berth for her maiden voyage.
The New York broke free from its moorings and swung toward Titanic’s stern. Tugboats and quick action by Titanic’s bridge crew helped prevent an actual collision. The incident delayed the departure and became an eerie episode before Titanic had even cleared Southampton Water.
The nearby RMS Oceanic is a frequent source of confusion because it was also in the area during the departure. However, the vessel that broke loose and came dangerously close was New York—more precisely, SS City of New York. Titanic then continued to Cherbourg, Queenstown, and across the Atlantic.