Orontes (1881 - 1903)

Orontes was the last clipper addition to the Aberdeen & Commonwealth Line fleet, having been launched in 1881 at the Walter Hood shipyard in Aberdeen. An iron ship of 1318 tons, the Orontes was fairly sluggish compared to her stable mates Samuel Plimsoll and Thermopylae. 

She lead a fairly ordinary "plodding" life with no particular adventures, plying the Australian trade until she was run into and sunk on 23rd October 1903 by the British tugboat Oceana, just off Ostend. 

She was the last ship built by the Walter Hood shipyard, as steam had largely replaced sail. Walter Hood did not have the capacity to build steam engines and was unable to compete. The shipyard merged with Alexander Hall in 1881.

Following is a report on the wreck of the Orontes from the wreck web site at http://users.pandora.be/tree/wrecksite/db/wreckdetails/detail_query.html?filter=1185

For those who don't speak Netherlands, a rough translation is supplied. Good luck!

A steel sailing ship of 1,383 tons, launched in 1881 and built at the yard of W. Hood & Co. at Aberdeen for shipowners G. Thompson & Co. of  London.

Dimensions: 71.56 m. x 11 m. x 6.85 m.

Crew members: 26. Captain: J.C. Kerr.

On the 23rd October 1903 it was involved in a collision with the tugboat OCEANA from London when on route from Caleta Coloso, Chile to Oostende with a cargo of nitrates (ammonia fertiliser). Historically sailing ships had not accepted the transport of nitrates for many years. Here we have a case where even the historical sources have proved not to be as “gospel” as possible.

In the Belgian sea reports of that time we find “sunk off Oostende; according to Lloyds Register of Losses the ORONTES sank 2 miles east of where the light ship SOUTH GOODWIN would lie”.

And what has been found? In 1999, a Belgian sports diver near the Out-Ruytingen Banks found the hollowed out remainders of a large steel sailing ship, which he dates as originating from the end of the 19th century. Luck smiles on him - as usual - he finds there the copper boss of the steering wheel, with the inscription: WALTER HOOD & CO., ABERDEEN SHIPBUILDERS. 

The diver has found a rich prize, and the mystery has been solved with that. 

More information on Orontes:

"The Colonial Clippers", Basil Lubbock, 1948
Walter Hood Shipyard
Aberdeen & Commonwealth Line
Ships List (Aberdeen Line)

The Aberdeen Line (Shaw Savill)

 Last updated 17/12/03