PORT JACKSON

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

Date1882

Object NameCLIPPER

MediumIRON

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 286' 11" x breadth 41' x depth 25' 3"
gross tonnage: 2212 ton

Object numberABDSHIP001196

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 309
Official number: 84362

Fate: Torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U.67, on 28th April 1917, 180 miles west by north of Fastnet

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged, four masts, 2 decks, figurehead - 3/4 female figure.

Owners:
15/09/1882: Registered Aberdeen for owner;
William Duthie, shipowner, Aberdeenl, 64 shares.
14/11/1882: William Duthie 8 shares - Alexander Duthie, shipbuilder; 7 shares - James Duthie, manufacturer; 2 shares - Alexander Davidson, advocate; 1 share - George Washington Wilson, photographer; 2 shares - James Elsmie, shipowner; 4 shares - James Haddow Bower, merchant [all Aberdeen].
21/11/1882: WIlliam Duthie 1 share - Charles Cook, shipowner, Aberdeen.
27/11/1882: William Duthie 8 shares - Joseph Moore, Joseph Moore Jr. and Thomas Lane Devitt, City of London [joint owners].
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1899: Owners J. Ross (J. Duthie, manager), Aberdeen (Lloyd's)
1906-14: Owners Devitt & Moore, registered at Aberdeen (as cadet training ship).
28/04/1917: Owner Swift Steam Ship Co. Ltd., West Hartlepool, managers Hessler & Co.

Masters:
1883: Master B. Crombie
1889: Master J. Hodges
1910: Master C. Maitland

General History:
Built as a wool clipper for the London-Sydney run.
01/08/1892: Launch started. Named by Mrs James Duthie.
03/08/1882: Launch completed after sticking on ways since 1st August.

05/1906: Collided with German S.S. PYRGOS, damage above the waterline.

Considered one of the most beautiful iron ships ever built. Designed by Alexander Duthie and built by Hall under supervision of Duthie Brothers at cost of £29,000. Unusually strong. Under first commander Capt. Crombie some fast passages - notably 39 days Sydney-San Francisco; best run in 24 hrs. 345 miles; 77 days Channel-Sydney 1882. 1907 bought by Devitt & Moore as cadet training ship.
(Basil Lubbock (1948 edn), "The Colonial Clippers" (James Brown & Son, Glasgow), p. 132), pp. 272-3.)

27/05/1893:
Fire which broke out on barque PORT JACKSON was not completely quenched till 7.30 next morning. Flames were confined to lower hold, which was completely burned out. It was crammed with valuable cargo, whole of which is almost completely destroyed by fire and water. When pumping stopped there were some 12-14ft water in barque and she was resting on bottom at one end. Several firemen overcome by smoke and nearly suffocated. Cause of fire not known, but seat of fire was amongst matches, tar, spirits and other inflammable materials (brought out and not yet discharged). Ship and cargo valued at £50,000-£60,000, ship insured in Scotland, but cargo by large no. of local offices. [Vessel at Sydney].
(Wagga Wagga Advertiser)

29/05/1893:
Damage to cargo by recent fire now estimated £15,000.
(Adelaide Advertiser)

04/09/1897:
4 masted barque PORT JACKSON form Liverpool with general cargo passed Gabo Island in command of Capt. Hodge. Reported 92 days out, all well.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

18/03/1903:
Barque PORT JACKSON, ready to sail for London, will take as cargo 12,145 bales wool, which is a record shipment for a sailing ship from any port.
(Brisbane Courier)

04/09/1906:
4 masted barque PORT JACKSON, 2132 tons, Captain Ward, left London 28 June for Sydney and Newcastle.
(Sydney Evening News)

29/10/1906: Now arrival causing concern.
(Cairns Morning Post)

02/11/1906:
After voyage of 126 days from London, with cargo of general merchandise, 4 masted barque PORT JACKSON arrived Sydney yesterday, fine weather conditions on voyage.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

01/05/1907:
Bertram V. Williams, seaman on barque PORT JACKSON, which sailed from Sydney 10 Jan. for London, recently arrived, sentenced to 1 month's imprisonment for having assaulted Capt. Ward for giving him a bad discharge.
(Adelaide register)

27/09/1907 - PORT JACKSON employed as training ship for British Mercantile Marine.
(Bendigo Advertiser)

10/10/1907:
D. Evitt & Moore's 4 masted barque PORT JACKSON sailed from London yesterday for Sydney. To be there for Christmas, will stay for 5 weeks and return to G.B. via Cape Horn. Ship's company included 24 naval cadets and 50 boys from training ship WARSPITE.
(Riverine Herald [Victoria])

06/06/1908:
Cable received that PORT JACKSON arrived in English Channel Thursday, 96 days out from Sydney (1 March).
(Sydney Morning News)

03/12/1910:
PORT JACKSON, bound London - Sydney, passed Wilson's Promontory yesterday. Reported 88 days out, all well.
(Newcastle Morning Herald)

31/12/1913:
PORT JACKSON discharging coke at Wallaroo.
(Kadima & Wallaroo Times)

30/03/1916:
Gordon B. Pitt, age 16, cadet on British barque PORT JACKSON, killed by falling down hold at Port Adelaide.
(Adelaide Daily Herald)

During World War I reverted to cargo carrying. On 28 April 1917 (under ownership of Swift S.S. Co.) was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine 180 miles west by north of Fasnet while on passage from Buenos Aires for Cork with maize. Captain and 13 of crew killed. 15 crew saved.
(Charles Hocking (1990), "Dictionary of Disasters at Sea in Age of Steam" (London Stamp Exchange, London, originally published 1969), p. 560)

Notes: Re-rigged as a barque, 1886
Contract cost £29,120. (Builder's List in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)

See also: History (CS): - http://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=52402&vessel=PORT+JACKSON

Wrecksite (WS): - http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?138459