Kyanite

Official Number
18702

The Kyanite was originally listed as a brig, and was launched from the Whitehaven shipyard of Lumley Kennedy & Co. on the 29th September 1840. She was originally operated by her builder.

Until 1850 the Kyanite was listed as sailing in the trade to South America under the command of Capt. T.Pope, then from 1845 under Capt.Lester. In 1850 the vessel was sold to Bowring & Co. of  Liverpool, and her registry was transfered to that port. Her command was given to Capt.Goldsworthy who sailed the vessel to Antigua and Newfoundland.  Lloyd's Register notes that she was lengthened in 1854, and from 1856 the Kyanite was listed as a barque, indicating the addition of a third mast.

From 1856 the Kyanite was owned by Stevens & Co. of Plymouth, where she was re-registered. Her master was Capt. J.Hanford, and the vessel is listed as sailing in the coastal trade, and to the Mediterranean. The Kyanite ceased to appear in Lloyd's Register after 1869.

The Kyanite was posted missing in March 1883. She was registered at Guernsey and had sailed with a coal cargo for her home port, from Shields, on the 22nd October 1882, no more being heard of her. She was believed to have been lost in a severe gale on the 27th October, along with three other Guernsey owned vessels. She was owned at the time of loss by John Hamley, of Guernsey. The master lost with her was Capt.Savage, and there were six other crew drowned.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Kyanite
1840
 124 om, 130 nm
 
 
 
 2 (later 3)
 
 
 

Sources :

  1. "Shipbuilding in Whitehaven - A Checklist" by Harry Fancy, Whitehaven Museum (1984) - states 429 tons, ship rig.
  2. Mercantile Navy List 1857: Kyanite, 153 tons, official number 18702, registered at Plymouth.
  3. Mercantile Navy List 1878: Kyanite, barquentine, 140 tons, built at Whitehaven in 1840, official number 18702, signal letters MNVR, registered at Guernsey, owned by John Hanley, of St.Sampsons, Guernsey.
  4. Loss reported in the Star (Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, newspaper), Thursday, 23rd November 1882.
  5. Loss reported in the Times newspaper, Thursday, 1st March 1883, page 6.