Acamas
Official Number
104684

The Acamas was a steel full-rigged ship built by Ritson & Co. at Maryport in August 1897. She was managed by her builders, and was first commanded by Capt.W.A.Nelson, previously of the Auchencairn. The ship's first voyage started in Oct.1897 from Newport, Wales, from where she carried steel rails to Geraldton, Australia. She then loaded coal at Newcastle, NSW, for San Francisco, making a 72 day passage and arriving in June, 1898. The next cargo was canned salmon, loaded at Steveston, British Columbia, and taken to Liverpool. (arrived 28th Feb., 1899). Subsequent voyages, were Liverpool (salt), Calcutta (jute), Hamburg (general cargo), San Francisco (grain) to Hull. From Hull the ship was towed by tug to Barry and  she left with a coal cargo on the 18th May 1901, bound for Port Pirie, Australia. Sailing for Newcastle from Port Pirie in ballast, the Acamas stranded on Spilsby Island, but got off successfully.

The Acamas continued under the command of Capt.Nelson until 1906, visiting Valparaiso, Rotterdam, Algoa, San Francisco, Australian ports and Eureka, California. Capt.Nelson's last voyage was from Antofagasta, Chile, to Rotterdam, where he arrived in November, 1906. After being towed to London the Acamas sailed for Melbourne under Capt. Bright. Capt. Nelson briefly retired, but later took command of the Ladas for the Ritson company. The Acamas was sold by Ritsons to a Norwegian company in about 1908. She was renamed Gezina and went missing in December 1918 whilst on passage from Rio de Janeiro to New York.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Acamas
1897
1860
 262.4
38.9
22.9 
 
 
 100 years A1, Special Survey

Sources :

  1. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1898-9: Acamas, official number 104684, 1860 gross tons, master Capt.W.A.Nelson, built and owned by Ritson & Co., registered at Maryport.
  2. Her career under Capt.W.A.Nelson is described in detail in the book "Master of Cape Horn" by Hugh Falkus, which includes a photograph of the vessel under construction.
  3. Sail plans for Acamas and Ladas are available in 'Sailing Ship Rigs and Rigging' by Harold Underhill (ISBN 0851741762) - information from Norman Pearce.
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