On the 1852’s Boxing Day, a clipper ship sailed into the Liverpool port, with a banner on its mast declaring it was “The Fastest Ship in the World”. This was the New Brunswick’s Marco Polo ship. The achievement to sail from Liverpool to Melbourne and back in just 175 days, was a world record at the time. A fearless master of navigation, Captain James Nicol “Bully” Forbes was at the helm.
The ship Marco Polo was a wooden, 3-masted clipper ship with all 3 decks. The vessel was built at Saint John, New Brunswick (Canada) by James Smith. The ship was launched in 1851 (April 17) and named after one of the most famous world travelers and explorers, the “discoverer of China”. The clipper ship Marco Polo measures were: length 184 feet (56 m), beam/width 36 feet (11 m), draught/draft 29 feet (8,8 m), between decks height 8 ft (2,4 m) and registered tonnage 1625 RT.
Clipper ship Marco Polo
James Smith’s shipyard was located on Courtney Bay at the mouth of Marsh Creek. There the vessel’s keel struck mudflat, the ship fell on its side and injured several workers. By April 22, the ship Marco Polo was floated free, suffering little damage. Due to the vessel’s large size, it remained grounded in Marsh Creek and laid for two weeks before being floated free again. It’s been speculated abouth both incidents and the ship’s keel affected, which might have led to the subsequent speed records.
A description of the Marco Polo ship appeared in June 1852 in “Illustrated London News”. The article said that the most distinguishing feature of the ship was her peculiar hull. Hull lines aft and fore were beautifully fine. Bearings were brought well down to bilge (lowest compartment, below waterline). Marco Polo made a displacement amidships to prevent unnecessary “careening”. The ship had a sharp entrance as a steamboat and a clean run. Below draught line, bows were hollow, but above she swelled out handsomely. In fact, with an yacht-like bottom, above water the Marco Polo ship had “the appearance of a frigate”.
The clipper ship Marco Polo was built to operate as an express, ocean-crossing, cargo and passenger shipping vessel, connecting England with Australia. No pains were spared in construction to secure ventilation. In strength, Marco Polo couldn’t be excelled – the timbering was enormous, ponderous and well formed. Deck beams were absolutely huge pitch-pine baulks. The stern and stem frame were of choicest material. Lodging knees and hanging were natural crooks, fitted to greatest nicety.
Forward of the poop deck (used as ladies’ cabin), was the “home on deck”. The place was ceiled with maple and used as dining saloon. The pilasters were panelled with ornamented silvered glass. Coins of various countries were used as a novel design feature of decorations. Circular aperture (6 ft / 1,8 m in circumference) was between each pilaster for ventilation and light. Over it was placed a plate glass sheet with gold-painted picturesque window. Whole panels were brought out slightly by perforated zinc rim, so that not only did light from ventilator diffuse over the whole, but air also was freely admitted.
Saloon doors were panelled in stained glass with figures of industry and commerce from Mr. Frank Howard designs. In the saloon’s centre there was a table of thick plate glass, with the advantage to give light to the below dormitories. Upholstery was in crimson embossed velvet. Berths in staterooms were ranged in tween decks.
Marco Polo ship history
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1854 |
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1858 |
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1867 |
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Half-model of Marco Polo ship is preserved in “The Mariners’ Museum” collections (Newport News, VA). The ship’s stern sculpture is preserved at “New Brunswick Museum”. At the “Merseyside Maritime Museum” (Liverpool, England) are displayed several stern carving replicas from the ship. At the following link you can read the extensive Marco Polo cruise ship review (history and facts about the Russia’s former “Aleksandr Pushkin” ship). The page has also detailed information on cabins and facilities, with so many photos. And this is an outgoing link to the ship’s wiki page.