THERMOPYLAE

Built in 1868 by the Walter Hood yard of Footdee the 'Thermopylae' rapidly gained a reputation for speed and reliability. Her career included record setting voyages to Australia in the wool trade and the famous tea races from Foochow, China. In 1890, Thermopylae was sold to Canadian interests and the vessel carried rice and timber across the Pacific. Thermopylae was sold to the Portuguese Navy in 1897 for training purposes and renamed Pedro Nunes. By this time, the 'Thermopylae' was found to be in such poor condition that it was decided to sink the ship using it as a torpedo target - a sad end for the pride of Aberdeen shipbuilding.