BLACK PRINCE
Shipbuildervessel built by
Alexander HALL & Co.
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
DateAugust 1863
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumCOMPOSITE
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 185 3/6' x breadth 32 1/12' x depth 19 1/12'
gross tonnage: 750 tons
gross tonnage: 750 tons
Object numberABDSHIP001122
Keywords
Yard Number: 234
Official Number: 48501
Fate: wrecked on Arendo reef in the Java Sea, 5 August 1882.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 3 masts, half poop deck 56', forecastle 39', iron frame planked
Owners:
1864-65: Kay & Co., registered at London.
1866-67: Finlay & Co., registered at London.
1868-75: Baring Brothers, registered at London.
1876-77: C. L. Norman, registered at London
1878-81: W. Inglis, registered at London.
Masters:
1864-78: Master W. Inglis
1879-82: Master W. C. Hewer
Voyages (Lloyd's):
1864-66: Aberdeen - China
1868-73: London - China
General History:
William Rennie who had designed the two FIREY CROSSes was called upon to design this clipper [...] No expense was spared and when ready for sea she was considered capable of beating any clipper in the trade. Yet she lacked one thing which undid all the rest, and that was the insufficient daring of her master, William Inglis. His incosistency of purpose time and again spoiled what might have been a good passage; or it may have been his natural caution because he owned 16 shares in her [...] Duncan J. Kay, London, registered as the owner, held the same number of shares; John Scarth held 8, and William Walkinshaw, a partner in Baring Brothers held 24 shares [...]
The clipper was wrecked on 5 August 1882 on Arendo reef in the Java sea bound from Manila to London with a crew of twenty-two. On one of her earlier passages in 1868 she was struck by a swordfish when homeward bound from Foochow and the first eight inches of its sword remained sticking in her side [...]
She made a number of fast passages such as 93 days between Hong Kong and London in 1864, 23 March to 24 June, loaded with 1150 tons of cotton at £4 10s per ton. Then in 1866 having gone out to Hong Kong in 102 days from London, she made the passage back from Foocow in 109 days, 3 June to 20 September, with 1148 tons of tea loaded at £5 per ton, a good rate. On this last passage she beat ZIBA, CHINAMAN, FLYING SPUR, ADA, FALCON and MIN which sailed at about the same time. Her net earnings on her fist four voyages amounted to £10,060 19s 4d.
(David R. MacGregor (1983) "The Tea Clippers: Their History and Development 1833-1875" (Conway Maritime, London), pp. 140-41))
Tea Races:
1865: Left Macao June 5, off Falmouth October 5, journey 122 days
1867: Left Foochow June 10, arrived October 7, journey 119 days
1868: Cargo - 1,051,300 lbs of tea, left Foochow May 31, arrived September 30, voyage 122 days
(ibid., pp. 234, 236-37)
08/01/1868:
Off Portland [Dorset] 31 December, ship BLACK PRINCE, Inglis, from London for Hong Kong.
(Aberdeen Journal)
10/05/1871:
BLACK PRINCE, ship, from Otago, 54S, 27W [near South Georgia] 12 Feb.
(Aberdeen Journal)
30/11/1876:
BLACK PRINCE, ship, from Calcutta for Hull, 14N, 93E [off Madras] 29 Sept.
(Glasgow Herald)
Notes: Contract cost £16,800, or £18 per ton (Builder's list held in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum).
