FOKIEN
Shipbuildervessel built by
Hall, Russell & Company, Limited
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1864 - 1992)
DateJanuary 1880
Object NameSCREW STEAMER
MediumIRON
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 200 3/6' x breadth 28 7/12' x depth 13 1/12'
Gross Tonnage: 814 ton
Gross Tonnage: 814 ton
Object numberABDSHIP001860
Keywords
Yard Number: 217
Official Number: 77458
Subsequent Names: SUN FOKIN (1896); HOIHAO (1898)
Fate: wrecked on Hainan Head, South China, 26 may 1904.
Propulsion: Steam
Description: Screw steamer, 2 decks (awning deck 19.9ft), 2 masts, schooner rigged, clench built, iron frame, no figurehead or galleries. 4 bulkheads.
Owners
1880: Registered at Aberdeen for owner;
John Stewart Lapraik, 7 Fenchurch St., London, 64 shares
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1883: Douglas Steamship Co. Ltd, registered at Hong Kong.
1895: Sold to Francis Cass, Amoy and resold to Chinese Government at Nanking.
1896-98: Chinese Government, registered at Shanghai.
1898-1904: Marty & D'Abbadie, registered at Haiphong under a French flag.
Masters:
1880-83: Master S. Ashton.
1884: Master H. C. A. Harris
1885: Master Goddard
1888: Master Wyllie
1890-92: Master Lewis
1892-94: Master Davis
1897-98: Master W. Paton
1899-1901: Master J. G. Gerard
1901-04: Master M. Merlees
General History:
25/01/1880:
Launch of a Vessel
There was launched from the building yard of Messrs Hall Russell & Co. of Footdee, on Monday, a finely modelled iron screw steamer, name of the FOLKIEN. This vessel has been built under special survey and classed at Lloyd's and will be fitted with compound surface condensing engines, steam winches, water ballast, patent windlass, and all the most approved appliances for facilitating loading and discharging cargo. She has splendid accommodation for about fifty first class passengers and 250 steerage passengers and is fitted fore and aft with large scuttles for light and ventilation. The FOKIEN has been built to the order of Messrs Douglas, Lapraik & Co, London for the China Coasting Trade where she will be commanded by Capt. Ashton. As the vessel left the ways she was gracefully named the FOKIEN by Miss Couper, Craigiebuckler, and afterwards taken to the sheer poles to receive masts and machinery.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
21/04/1880:
FOKIEN s., from Aberdeen at Hong Kong April 19
(Liverpool Journal of Commerce)
01/12/1885:
At a Session of Her Majesty's Supreme Court, held Oct. 19, the case of W. Nicoll, accused of manslaughter, was heard. Nicoll, who is third mate of the steamer FOKIEN, was accused of throwing a coolie overboard, who had been caught stealing tea on the above-named steamer on the night of July 27. The taking of the evidence, a large part of which was Chinese, lasted seven hours. His lordship having briefly summed up, the jury, after an absence of about fifteen minutes, returned a verdict of "not guilty." The accused was immediately liberated.
(London and China Telegraph)
30/06/1904:
Hong Kong, May 27.—The French steamer HOIHAO, which stranded May 21 on a bank in the South Channel, Hainan Head, has seven feet water in the forehold. Lighters have been procured at Hoihow, and a salvage party leaves here to-day per steamer HANOI. A Chinese gunboat has been ordered to protect the vessel.
(Lloyd's List)
26/07/1904:
For the time being the salvage work has been given up on the wreck of the HOIHAO at Hainan Head, but it appears thott the vessel is still partly above water, but her port bilge, for about 15 feet, is on the rocks, and it is difficult to stop the holes for the pumps to take the water sway. Unfortunately Mr J. W. Jameson failed to float the steamer HOIHAO, which went aground on Hainan Head some months ago. After removing the cargo he commenced to float the vessel, but no sooner had she left the rock than she completely sank. Mr A. R. Marty bought the wreck at auction some time ago for $9,900.
(Overland China Mail)
Engines:
1 double bottom tank holding 40 tons water.
Compound inverted 2 cylinder steam engine built by Hall Russell & Co. Aberdeen, cylinder diameters 30" and 52", length of stroke 33", 120H.P.
1 boiler of 80 lbs p.s.i.
