Loch Sunart (sailing ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | Loch Sunart |
| Namesake | Loch Sunart |
| Owner | James Aitken |
| Operator | General Shipping Co |
| Port of registry | Glasgow |
| Builder | A. & J. Inglis, Pointhouse |
| Yard number | 135 |
| Launched | 19 January 1878 |
| Identification |
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| Fate | wrecked 13 January 1879 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 1,284 GRT, 1,231 NRT |
| Length | 225.5 ft (68.7 m) |
| Beam | 35.5 ft (10.8 m) |
| Depth | 21.6 ft (6.6 m) |
| Decks | 2 |
| Sail plan | 3 masts, square-rigged ship |
| Capacity | 45 passengers |
| Crew | 32 |
The Loch Sunart was a large sailing ship built in Scotland in 1878. It had a strong body made of iron. This ship was part of the Loch Line fleet, which sailed between Great Britain and Australia.
The ship was named after Loch Sunart, a beautiful sea loch in Scotland. Sadly, the Loch Sunart was wrecked off the coast of Ulster in 1879. Luckily, everyone on board was saved. One of the crew members, Thomas Richard Pearce, was especially lucky. He had also survived another shipwreck just the year before!
Building the Loch Sunart
The Loch Sunart was built by a company called A. & J. Inglis. Their shipyard was in Pointhouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland. The ship was launched into the water on January 19, 1878.
This ship was quite big for its time. It was about 225.5 ft (68.7 m) (68.7 meters) long. Its width, or beam, was 35.8 ft (10.9 m) (10.9 meters). The depth of its hull was 21.6 ft (6.6 m) (6.6 meters).
The Loch Sunart was a full-rigged ship. This means it had three masts, and its sails were square-shaped. The ship's total weight, or tonnage, was 1284 GRT.
The main owner of the Loch Sunart was James Aitken. His family helped own the Loch Line shipping company. The ship was officially registered in Glasgow, a major city in Scotland. Its unique identification number was 78578.
The Ship's Journeys and Wreck
In 1878, the Loch Sunart made one trip to Australia and back. This was its first and only full voyage.
In January 1879, the ship began another journey. It left Glasgow, heading for Melbourne, Australia. The ship's captain was Gavin Weir. On board were 45 passengers, who were emigrants moving to a new country. There were also 32 crew members.
The ship carried a variety of goods. Its cargo included spirits, linen, iron railings, coal, machinery, and even gunpowder.
On January 13, 1879, disaster struck. The Loch Sunart hit Skullmartin Rock. This rock was in Ballywalter Bay, off the coast of the Ards Peninsula in County Down. The ship became stuck.
Thankfully, all 45 passengers and 32 crew members were rescued safely. Among them was a young apprentice named Thomas Richard Pearce. Amazingly, Thomas had survived the wreck of another ship, the Loch Ard, just seven months earlier in Australia.
Most of the ship's cargo was saved from the wreck. People tried to pull the ship free with tugboats, but they failed. On February 18, the Loch Sunart was declared a total loss. This meant it could not be repaired and would never sail again.
