ECLIPSE

Shipbuildervessel built by Alexander HALL & Co. (Footdee, Aberdeen)

Date1867

Object NameWHALER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 141' 5" x breadth 29' 4" x depth 16' 3"
Gross Tonnage: 434 ton Net, 296 tons Gross

Object numberABDSHIP001138

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 250
Official Number: 55345
Subsequent Names: LOMONOSSOV (c. 1934)

Fate: unknown, last in Lloyd's 1958 (no. 69275)

Propulsion: Steam
Description: Wooden screw steamer, 1 deck (later 2 decks), poop deck 48'

Owners:
1867-93: Capt. David Gray, master and shipowner., registered at Peterhead.
1893-1909: J. Mitchell, registered at Dundee
1909-16: Fangstaktieselsk Sœlen (S. T. Sverre), registered at Christiania [Oslo]
1916-22: Russian Government (Sverderup's Polar Expedition)
1923-58: Soviet Union, registered at Archangel

Masters:
1867-91: Master D. Gray
1892-93: Master W. Guy
1893-1909: Master W. F. Milne
1909-13: Master C. Christopherson
1915-20: Master O. Kopstad

General History:
15/09/1869:
ECLIPSE returned to Aberdeen from Greenland last week.
(Aberdeen Journal)

07/02/1873:
Mr Frank Buckland (campaigner against seal fishing) published in the Times, facts with regard to seal fishing sent him by Captain David Gray, master of screw steamer ECLIPSE, one of principal vessels which sail annually from Scotland in pursuit of whales and seals. "On the seals being reached, the men are sent over the ice, the harpooners armed with rifles, the other men with seal clubs, knife and steel; also a rope to drag the skins to the ship, and now a work of brutal murder and cruelty goes on" [follows detailed and graphic account of seal hunting] Buckland calls for interantional treaty among sealing vessels (20 from Scotland, 15-20 Norway, 2 Germany) to extend close season by 17 days. Presumably to delay start of season till pups less dependent on their mothers.
(Dundee Courier)

08/11/1876:
Steamer CITY OF ABERDEEN, going to the shears for repair, became entangled with Peterhead whaling steamer ECLIPSE, in position for getting new boilers. Tug HEATHERBELL was employed for 2 hours extricating the vessels, fortunately without serious injury to either.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)

10/03/1879:
Peterhead sealing fleet - Steamer ECLIPSE, Captain D. Gray, left Greenland.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal

27/07/1881:
Steamer ECLIPSE, of Peterhead, arrived there from Greenland fishing and reports herself almost full - 3100 seals, 30 Bottlenoses, and 14 whales.
(Dundee Courier)

30/09/1898:
At Dundee J.P. Court John Duncan, Steward, and Cumming Taylor, harpooner, were charged with having imported by the whaling steamer ECLIPSE 75 lbs manufactured Cavendish tobacco. Defence solicitor argued they were in habit of bartering with the natives and were allowed by government to have a certain amount of tobacco for this purpose, each fined £12 or 2 months imprisonment (1/10/1898 - fines paid.).
(Dundee Courier)

26/04/1900:
The last of the whaling fleet for the Greenland and Davis Straits whale fishing left Dundee, when the steamer ECLIPSE, under command of Capt. Milne, left for latter place. Her departure was witnessed by hundreds of people. Hearty cheers were raised and customary "blessing" of oranges thrown aboard the steamer.
(Courier and Argus)

Note: Contract cost £11,700 (Builder's List held in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
Engines: By Hall, Russell & Co, Aberdeen (1877) compound 2 cylinders of 23" and 40", with 27" stroke, estimated 72HP, new boilers 1903
The name LOMONASSOV is first noted in Lloyd's in 1934 but she had been missing from the register for some years before.
No masters are listed with her Lloyd's entries after becoming a Soviet vessel.