RMS Olympic Ismay had previously planned to build a ship named "Olympic" as a sister ship to . The senior Ismay died in 1899 and the order for the ship was cancelled. Construction of "Olympic" began three months before "Titanic" to ease pressures on the shipyard. Several years would pass before "Britannic" would be launched. In order to accommodate the construction of the class, Harland and Wolff upgraded their facility in Belfast; the most dramatic change was the combining of three slipways into two larger ones. "Olympic" and "Titanic" were constructed side by side. "Olympic"s keel was laid on 16 December 1908
Brig "Mercury" Attacked by Two Turkish Ships between "Mercury" (which was, at the time, commanded by Lieutenant Alexander Kazarsky) and two other brigs against a sizable complement of approximately 14 Turkish ships, who were returning from the shores of Anatolia. Turkish victory was at first foreseeable, but the tides of battle changed, and "Mercury" was able to escape after a final, powerful assault by the three brigs, ending the conflict. After the conflict had ended, one of the navigators of the Turkish ships made a comment commending "Mercury" for her seaworthiness, and the captain for his bravery: Brig "Mercury" Attacked by Two Turkish Ships Brig "Mercury" Attacked