SS Great Britain was the largest ship in the world when it was launched in 1843. A witness to many important historic events, today it rests on a dry dock – a sea of glass, and is an important tourist attraction in Bristol, UK. Designed initially for the emerging trans-Atlantic luxury passenger trade, the ship carried 252 first and second class passengers and 130 crew. It typifies innovative approach to engineering and also marks the beginnings of international passenger travel and world communications.