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 Orient byThomas Goldsworthy Dutton and William Foster, about 1860 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Orient |
| Owner |
|
| Port of registry | |
| Builder | Thomas Bilbe,Rotherhithe |
| Launched | 1853 |
| Completed | 14 December 1853 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Scrapped 1925 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 1,133 GRT, 1,032 NRT |
| Length | 184.4 ft (56.2 m) |
| Beam | 31.7 ft (9.7 m) |
| Depth | 21.1 ft (6.4 m) |
| Sail plan |
|
Orient was a wooden-hulled, three-mastedsailing ship that was built in England in 1853 and scrapped inGibraltar in 1925. She served in theCrimean War, and then spent two decades withJames Thompson & Co's "Orient Line" of ships sailing betweenGreat Britain andSouth Australia.
Orient was built as afull-rigged ship. In 1886 she was reduced to abarque. In 1890 she was converted into ahulk, and in 1925 she was scrapped.
Thomas Bilbe builtOrient at Nelson Dock,Cuckold's Point,Rotherhithe, launching her in 1853 and completing her on 14 December that year. Her registered length was 184.4 ft (56.2 m), her beam was 31.7 ft (9.7 m) and her depth was 21.1 ft (6.4 m).[1] Hertonnages were 1,133 GRT and 1,032 NRT.[2]
She had acomposite hull with an iron frame and timber planks. Beneath a 61-foot (19 m) poop she was fitted with cabin space, not included in any earlier Bilbe design.[citation needed]
Orient's first owner was James Thomson & Co (also spelt Thompson), whoregistered her inLondon.[2] HerUnited Kingdomofficial number was 12981 and hercode letters were VTHC.[3]
Orient did not immediately enter the trade with Australia for which she was built. The Crimean War began in October 1854, two months before Bilbe completed her. As soon as she was completed, theUK Governmentchartered her as "Transport No. 78".[1] She started her war service as atroop ship, carrying military materiél and members of the88th Regiment of Foot toCrimea.[citation needed]
From October 1855Orient was ahospital ship.[1] In 1856 the UK Government returned her to her owners.
In 1856Orient finally made her first voyage to Australia. Commanded byCaptain A Lawrence she took prospectors toSydney who wereheaded for Australia's goldfields.[citation needed]
In 1857Orient sailed direct fromPortsmouth toAdelaide. She made similar trips every year until 1877. It was at the inauguration of a liner service to Australia in 1861 that Thompson & Co began trading as "The Orient Line of Packets", commonly called the "Orient Line".[citation needed]
In January 1862Orient was sailing fromCape Town to London when she caught fire in the South Atlantic and was nearly destroyed.[1] A Dutch ship was standing by to rescue those on board, and the captain and crew could have left the ship, but resolutely over the course of a day brought the fire under control. She was able to reachAscension Island, where her damaged cargo was discharged and she was given temporary repairs. Captain Lawrence, his officers and crew were handsomely rewarded by the insurance underwriters for their efforts.[citation needed]
Orient's secondMaster was Captain Harris, under whom she made some of her fastest passages fromPlymouth toPort Adelaide, notably 72 days in 1866. Later Masters were Roland De Steiger 1868–1871, WH Mitchell 1873–1876, and Martin Haffner 1876–1878.[4]
In April 1879 Cox Brothers boughtOrient and registered her inWaterford, Ireland, who used her in trans-Atlantic trade. In 1886 they had her rig reduced to a barque. In 1890 Smith, Imossi & Co,agents for theP&O, bought her and turned her into acoal hulk atGibraltar. In 1925 she was scrapped at Gibraltar.[1]
