Image Not Available

NICOYA

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

DateJune 1867

Object NameCLIPPER

MediumCOMPOSITE

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 162' 8" x breadth 30' 1" x depth 17' 6"
gross tonnage 593 tons

Object numberABDSHIP001140

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 252
Official Number: 56376

Fate: wrecked off Noumea, New Caledonia, 23 January 1894.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, raised quarterdeck 49', iron and wood frame.

Owners:
1868-82: W. Le Lacheur, registered at Guernsey.
1882-94: A. & J. McIntyre and H. R. Reid & Co., registered at Melbourne.

Masters:
1868-69: Master Le Messuir
1869-75: Master W. Jones
1877-82: Master J. C. Sampson.
1883-85: Master H. Guy
1885-91: Master Foster
1892-94: Master Norris

Voyages (Lloyd's):
1868-69: Aberdeen - Costa Rica.
1869-70: London - Costa Rica.

General History:
08/12/1868:
Arrived NICOYA, Master Jones, from London 30 August.
(Sydney Empire)

15/01/1869:
Departed Sydney for Costa Rica.
(Sydney Empire)

08/01/1883:
NICOYA, P. Johnson Master, outwards 6 Jan. for Sydney. Took following cargo:- 16 tons oatmeal, vauled £320; 182 tons bark, £1456; 112 bushels tares, £18; 636 bush. peas, £95; 1740 bush. oats £260; 2100 bush. bran, £150, Total value of cargo £2343.
(Launceston Examiner (Tasmania))

07/03/1885:
5 Chinese seamen from ship NICOYA charged with wilful disobedience of orders. One of the defendents said they objected to discharge cargo, had been 20 years to sea and had never done so. James Foster, Master of NICOYA, said prisoners were signed on at Hong Kong for 2 years voyage, only 3 months of which expired. Conduct during voyage good. Asked by the judge if they would return to ship to work cargo. They refused and were sentenced to one month inprisonment.
(Williamston Chronicle (Victoria))

13/07/1887:
Melbourne, 9 July - NICOYA sailed for Haiphong [North Vietnam] via Newcastle [N.S.W.].
(Hobart Mercury (Tasmania))

01/08/1889:
NICOYA, from Newcastle 19 June, arrived Hong Kong.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

29/04/1890:
NICOYA, Capt. Johnson, reports leaving Auckland, N.Z., 20 April, experienced light S.W. winds for day or so, followed by fresh S.E. weather. Is in ballast and after docking for overhaul proceeds to Newcastle to load for a China port.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

14/05/1890:
NICOYA sailed 18 May for Albany [W. Australia] via Newcastle, N.S.W.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

12/12/1890:
NICOYA at Hong Kong 18 Nov.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

23/01/1894: NICOYA wrecked on Lighthouse Reef, Noumea, while on a voyage from Saigon to Noumea carrying rice and tea.
(Lloyd's Casualty Lists, 1 January - 31 March 1894, p. 14)

19/02/1894:
Sydney, 18 Feb. - barque IRIS arrived from Noumea [New Caledonia] bringing 9 of crew of barque NICOYA, Captain Norris, wrecked 24 January about 4 miles South of Lighthouse off Noumea. She was on voyage Saigon - Noumea with cargo of rice and tea. Although flag was hoisted for a pilot on arrival at Noumea, none came off and so Capt. Norris decided to take the ship in. She grounded on a coral reef, where she remained for a week until she broke up. No lives were lost, but only 40 tons of cargo was saved.
(South Australian Register)

Notes: Contract cost £11,766 (Builder’s List held in the Lloyd’s Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
1891-92: re-rigged as a barque