Editing SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse (section)

==Characteristics==
===Technical aspects===
''Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse''{{'}}s registered length was {{cvt|627.4|ft|abbr=on}}, her [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] was {{cvt|66.0|ft|abbr=on}} and her depth was {{cvt|35.8|ft|abbr=on}}. Her [[tonnage]]s were {{GRT|14349}}, {{NRT|5521}}<ref name=LR98>''Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping'', 1898, KAI–KAL</ref> and {{cvt|24300|LT|t}} displacement.<ref>Schmalenbach, p. 48</ref> Her dimensions were similar to those of the 1860 ''Great Eastern'', which was the largest ship of its time.<ref name="Ferulli, p. 118">Ferulli, p. 118</ref> As already noted, her four funnels were her most unusual feature. People associated the safety of an ocean liner with the number of "stacks" or funnels they had. Some passengers would in fact refuse to board ships if they did not have four funnels.<ref name="Miller, p. 4"/> In an age when ocean travel was not as safe as today, it was important to ensure that passengers felt at ease.<ref>Ferulli, p. 119</ref>

The special improvement in the arrangement of this steamer, as compared with other express steamers previously built by the NDL or other companies, consisted in the entire upper deck.<ref name="Miller, p. 2"/> Like many four-funnelled liners, ''Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse'' did not actually require that many. She had only two uptake shafts from the boiler rooms, which each branched into two to connect to the four funnels—this design is the reason for the funnels being unequally spaced.<ref name="Miller, p. 4">Miller, p. 4</ref>

''Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse'' became the first liner to have a commercial wireless telegraphy system when the Marconi Company installed one in February 1900.<ref name="Ferulli, p. 118"/> Communications were demonstrated with systems installed at the Borkum Island lighthouse and Borkum Riff lightship {{cvt|30|km|nmi mi}} northwest of the island, as well as with British stations,<ref name="Ferulli, p. 118"/> and the first ship-to-shore message was sent on 7 March.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1900/03/08/archives/messages-from-a-vessel-experiments-made-by-the-kaiser-wilhelm-der.html |title=Messages from a Vessel |date=8 March 1900 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=5 March 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> By 1911 her [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] was DKW.<ref>The Marconi Press Agency Ltd, p. 238</ref>

The ship was propelled by two had two {{cvt|22|ft|3.75|in|m|1}} [[propeller]]s,<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://archive.org/stream/monetarytimes31torouoft#page/351/mode/1up |title=The Monetary Times |publisher=Toronto}}</ref> each powered by a four-cylinder [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple expansion engine]]. Between them her two engines were rated at 3,094 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]]<ref name=LR98/> and gave her a speed of more than {{cvt|20|kn}}.<ref name=TGOL/> The engines were noted for their stability.<ref name=NH>[http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=kaiwi « SS ''Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse'', Norddeutscher Lloyd »], ''Norway Heritage''. Consulté le 15 July 2010</ref> The engines were balanced on the Schlick system, which prevented movement being transferred to the body of the ship, thus reducing vibration.

===Interiors===
[[File:First Class Restaurant of the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse.jpg|thumb|''Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse''{{'}}s First Class dining saloon]]
''Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse'' was built to carry a maximum of 1,506 passengers: 206 first class; 226 second class; 1,074 third class. When she was completed, her crew numbered 488. However, after her refit in 1913, her crew space was increased to 800. The décor of ship was in the style of [[Baroque Revival architecture|Baroque revival]], overseen by [[Johann Poppe]], who carried out all of the interior decoration. This was unique as usually a ship would have several interior designers.<ref name="Le Goff, p. 22"/>

The interiors were graced with statues, mirrors, tapestries, gilding, and various portraits of the Imperial family. The interiors of her sister ships were also placed in the hands of Poppe. The first class salon was noted for its tapestries and its blue seating.<ref>Server, p. 19</ref> The smoking room, a traditionally male preserve, was made to look like a typical German inn.<ref>Piouffre, p. 108</ref> The dining room, capable of holding all passengers in one sitting, rose several decks and was crowned with a dome. The room also had columns and had its chairs fixed to the deck, a typical feature of ocean liners of the era.<ref>Piouffre, p. 110</ref>