1868 Star of Greece
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The iron sailing ship Star of Greece (Yard No. 57) was launched today in the morning at high water for J. P. Corry & Co. The 1,288-ton vessel was intended for the East India trade. She was of the same dimensions, and of similar construction, as Star of Persia (Yard No. 55), launched in June. Some six ‘Stars’ had been already launched from the Queen's Island for the same firm. They were mostly engaged in carrying miscellaneous cargoes from London to Calcutta and were amongst the largest and swiftest vessels in the trade. Shortly after the launch, which was very successfully accomplished, the new ship was taken into Prince's Dock for her masts to be fitted and delivered to her owners in the same month.
Twenty years later, she was wrecked in a violent storm off Port Willunga, Australia on the 13th July 1888. Some discrepancy exists in the actual number of lives lost, due to doubts about the number of people aboard the vessel when it left Port Adelaide, but most historians conclude that at least 18 perished. The most striking part of the tragedy was that the ship was only 200 metres from shore when it broke in two amidships at 2.00am.The alarm was raised at 7.20am by a young boy taking his morning walk but because the Willunga telegraph station didn't open until 9.00am, the harbourmaster was unable to contact authorities in Adelaide until then.
1895 Armenian
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The cargo ship Armenian (Yard No. 292) was delivered today to Frederick Leyland & Co., Liverpool. The 8,765-ton vessel and her sister Victorian (Yard No. 291) continued that company’s policy of ordering their vessels in pairs from Harland & Wolff.
1918 War Icarus
The ‘G’ type cargo ship War Icarus (Yard No. 540) was launched today for the Shipping Controller. The 8,002-ton vessel was delivered on 31 October and operated under the management of the British Steamship Co. Ltd.
1930 Silverandal
The 6,770-ton cargo ship Silverandal (Yard No. 885) was delivered today Silver Line Ltd.
1963 Methane Progress
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The 21,875-ton liquefied-gas carrier Methane Progress (Yard No. 1,653) was launched today for Methane Tanker Finance Ltd.