SS 'Normandie' Leather Folk Art Ship Model of the Transatlantic ocean liner. The arrival in New York Harbor of the gigantic ocean liner SS Normandie in 1935 inaugurated a new era in transatlantic travel. The ocean liner SS Normandie was the first large ship to be built according to the 1929 Convention for Safety of Life at Sea. She was designed so the forward end of the promenade deck served as a breakwater, permitting her to maintain a high speed even in rough weather. The SS Normandie would eventually break new ground on many levels, she was to be the fastest, the sleekest, and the most artfully decorated. But her first distinction would be as the premier ship to exceed 1,000 feet in length. When construction was completed, SS Normandie was the longest and largest ship afloat—measuring 1,028 feet in length with an initial tonnage of 79,280. When the ship was launched on October 29, 1932, all of France, and indeed the world, was following the event. The largest object ever set in motion by man at the time, SS Normandie was the center of attention. The world's largest bottle of Champainge was used to christen the ship. With dignitaries and VIPs in attendance including Albert Lebrun, President of France. Height: 16 inches. Width: 21 inches.