Ellenbank

Official Number 80477

The Ellenbank was a large iron ship launched in September 1885 from the Maryport shipyard of R.Ritson & Co. Ltd. She was the first iron vessel built at this shipyard, and was sister ship to the Netherby, launched the following year. Like the Netherby, the Ellenbank was initially managed by her builders. Her maiden voyage was from Maryport to Cardiff, from where she sailed, with a coal cargo, on the 25th November, reaching San Francisco after a passage of 163 days. Her master on this first voyage was Capt.Hugh McKenzie. He was succeeded for the second voyage by Capt.John Briscoe, and then the Ellenbank was sold to Liverpool owners in 1888.

The Ellenbank was wrecked at Cape Rada, Sumatra, on the night of 8th November 1891, bound from Padang for Cheribon in ballast. Caught in a strong current, the ship was unable to tack or wear in order to weather the Cape, and became embayed in Semanka or Keyser Bay, where she struck. A brief Court of Inquiry was held at Singapore on the 30th November, in the absence of the master, who had stayed at the wreck. No fault was found with his conduct.

Sources :

1. Online shipping registers at Mystic Seaport Library have entries for the Ellenbank 1887 to 1892. Masters are named as Capts.McKenzie, Driscoe, A.Billett, and J.Frew.
   
2. Record of American and Foreign Shipping 1890 - names master as Capt.J.Frew, owners were McDiarmid, Greenshields & Co., and the vessel was registered at Liverpool.
3. Wreck noted in "Fortunes of the Knight Line" by David Burrell, in Sea Breezes magazine, Vol.60, No. 485 (May 1986).
4. BoT Wreck Report available at the Port Cities Southampton website.