The Vulcan was launched on March 4, 1893, at Barclay, Curle & Co. in Glasgow and served the Red Funnel Line as a tugboat and passenger tender in the Port of Southampton. In 1911, she assisted the Olympic following its collision with the cruiser Hawke. She became famous on April 10, 1912: As the Titanic was departing, the wake caused the mooring lines of the New York to snap, sending its stern drifting toward the Titanic. Captain Charles Gale had a line thrown over—the first one snapped, but the second held. The ships came within just about 1.2 meters of colliding, and the Titanic set sail about an hour late. From 1916 to 1918, the Vulcan served in wartime operations.
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