Columbus (1824 ship)
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 A contemporary depiction of the Columbus in full sail | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Columbus |
| Builder | Charles Wood, Anse-du-Fort, Quebec, Canada |
| Launched | 28 July 1824 |
| Fate | Wrecked 17 May 1825 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Disposable ship |
| Tonnage | 3,690 GRT |
| Length | 301 ft (92 m) |
| Beam | 50 ft 6 in (15.39 m) |
| Draught | 22 feet 5 inches (6.83 m) |
| Sail plan | Four-masted barque |
| Complement | 74 |
The Columbus was a disposable ship built in 1824 to transport timber from British North America to the United Kingdom. She was intended to be dismantled upon arrival and her considerable structure sold, thus avoiding an import duty on timber cargoes. Columbus was ten times the size of traditional timber-carrying cargo vessels and was built for economy, not speed. She made one successful voyage from Quebec to London carrying a cargo of 7,875 long tons (8,001 t) and became a spectacle for tourists in her dock at Blackwall, London. Instead of dismantling it was decided by her owners that the Columbus would return to North America in 1825 to deliver a second load. She hit a storm in the Atlantic and was sunk, her crew being rescued by a passing merchant vessel. A second disposable ship, the Baron of Renfrew, was launched in 1825. Declining freight transport costs, reduced timber prices and a reduction in timber duty thereafter made this method of transport uneconomic and no more disposable ships were built for the Atlantic timber trade.
In the 1820s Britain maintained an import duty on timber. There was, however, no duty payable on ships broken up and sold. To take advantage of this a merchant decided to construct a large timber vessel as a disposable ship, to be sailed from British North America to Britain where she would be dismantled and sold. The ship would also carry a cargo of loose timber and be built not for speed but to carry the greatest cargo at the lowest cost.[1]
The Columbus was built by Charles Wood at Anse-du-Fort on the Île d'Orléans, Quebec, to fulfil this need.[2][3] She measured 301 feet (92 m) in length, 50 feet 6 inches (15.39 m) in breadth and 22 feet 5 inches (6.83 m) in depth and was of 3,690 Gross Rated Tonnage. She was flat-bottomed and with straight sides made of square timber to maximise her cargo space and ease of reselling her structure as timber.[2] It had originally been planned to equip the Columbus with two steam engines but she was equipped barque-style with three square-rigged masts and a jiggermast.[4]
Columbus was around ten times the size of usual timber-carrying vessels of the period.[1] It was originally planned that she would carry 15,000 long tons (15,240 t) of timber loose in her shell-like hull; but actually carried 6,300–7,875 long tons (6,401–8,001 t).[4][5][2] Such a cargo would normally have required 30 cargo ships of around 560 tons displacement.[4]
Maiden voyage
![](#/media/File:Le_"Columbus"_1824.jpg)
The Columbus was launched on 28 July 1824. She was loaded with timber and departed on her maiden voyage on 5 September, under Captain William McKeller. Columbus was grounded at Bersimis on the St Lawrence River on 9 September but was refloated and continued her journey three days later. By 29 October she was off the Scilly Islands and arrived at The Downs on 1 November.[2] She became the largest vessel at that time to have crossed the Atlantic Ocean.[5]
Columbus was leaking by the end of her journey and was brought in under a pilot and steam tugs to Blackwall, London.[2] Her size drew sightseers to the dockyard.[1]
