RMS Hecla
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RMS Hecla was an ocean liner for the Cunard Line, built in 1860 and scrapped in 1954. As of 2024, she is the longest surviving vessel built for the company, lasting 94 years.
Hecla at an unknown port. taken after her 1871 rebuild | |
History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | Hecla (1860–1882) |
Namesake | Hekla |
Owner | British and Foreign Steam Navigation Company |
Operator |
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Port of registry |
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Route |
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Builder | |
Yard number | 97 |
Laid down | 1859 |
Launched | January 1860 |
Completed | March 30, 1860 |
Acquired | March 1860 |
Maiden voyage | 16 June 1863 (to New York) |
In service | April 1860 |
Out of service | March 1881 |
Renamed | Claris |
Refit | 1872 |
Fate | Sold to Compania de Transportes Maritimos 1882 and 1886 |
Spain | |
Name |
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Operator | Compania de Transportes Maritimos (1882, 1886-1892) |
Port of registry | Barcelona |
Acquired | 1882, 1886 |
Out of service | 1892 |
Fate | Sold 1892 |
Argentina | |
Name |
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Owner |
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In service | 1892 |
Out of service | 1897 |
Refit | 1897 |
Fate | Scrapped 1954 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Olympus Class |
Type | Ocean liner |
Tonnage | 1,785 GRT |
Length | 274 ft (84 m) |
Beam | 36 ft 2 in (11.02 m) |
Draught | 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m) |
Depth | 25 ft 10 in (7.87 m) |
Installed power | 300hp |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
Boats & landing craft carried | 6 as built, 8 after 1871 |
Capacity |
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Notes | Longest lasting ship built for Cunard (94 years) |
Design and construction
The Hecla was the third of five sister ships built between 1860 and 1861 for the Cunard Line, the others being Olympus, Marathon, Atlas, Kedar and slightly later, the Sidon and Morocco followed. All seven ships were designed for the
In 1871, the Hecla went under a large rebuild at
Cunard Line career
Hecla departed on her maiden voyage in April, 1860 and was without any significance. She enjoyed a rather uneventful life and short in the Mediterranean. Her graceful, yacht-like appearance earned her the group nickname of MacIver's Yachts with loyal passengers who would take holiday trips on these ships. However, these vessels had steerage, unlike most transatlantic Cunarders. This resulted in her being transferred to the New York run to bolster profits. She departed on her first trip to New York City from Liverpool on June 16, 1863. She was somewhat redundant, and often made voyages to Boston as the new RMS Scotia came into the Atlantic service in 1863.
The Hecla was pulled from this service in 1869 due to increasingly outdated design and falling popularity, as well as the new Algeria-class Cunard ships entering service soon. To modernise her, Hecla and her sister ships were sent to Harland and Wolff for a major rebuild.[3]
Upon returning to service in 1872, her new route was Liverpool to Boston, with a stop at Queenstown (now known as Cobh.) She continued on this route as well as some Mediterranean voyages still, until the Cephalonia-class were launched in 1881, to which she was sold to her builders to partially pay for the new ships.[4]
Later career
She was briefly renamed Claris for 4 years and registered in Barcelona. She was reverted to Hecla in 1886 and returned to her builders, until being sold again in 1886, and once more in 1892 to P.A Garland of
During 1919, she would receive the engines from the ship 25 De Mayo. With 4,000 horsepower, these triple expansion steam engines gave the old vessel a new average speed of 14 knots, the fastest she had ever been able to sail. She had been repurposed to be a naval collier, and in 1920 had another refit to modernise the aging ship. In 1924, she collided with the Nelson liner Highland Loch and was repaired without issue.[5] Her older role was restored in 1930 with the Great Depression kicking in, her machinery was stripped and sold away, and the hulk of the Rio Negro yet again was towed to Ushuaia to act as a coal barge, where she would remain here for nearly the rest of her career.
On February 27, 1951, she was towed to Buenos Aires by the Chiriguano and Sanaviron, where she would remain there as a former shell of her self for the next few years. In 1954, the end for the former Hecla was reached, when she was sold for breaking. By the end of 1954, the Hecla was finally completely gone after serving as an ocean liner, a collier and a coal barge over the course of 94 years.[6][7]
References
- ^ "Screw Steamer HECLA built by Robert Napier & Sons in 1860 for The British & Foreign Steam Navigation Company, Glasgow, Passenger / Cargo". www.clydeships.co.uk.
- ^ "Screw Steamer KEDAR built by William Denny & Bros in 1860 for The British & Foreign Steam Navigation Company, Glasgow, Passenger / Cargo". www.clydeships.co.uk.
- ^ "Screw Steamer ATLAS built by James & George Thomson in 1860 for The British & Foreign Steam Navigation Company, Glasgow, Passenger / Cargo". www.clydeships.co.uk.
- ^ https://www.dieselduck.info/historical/05%20documents/Cunard%20Liners.pdf
- ^ "Hecla, Cunard Line". www.norwayheritage.com.
- ^ "Indice General de Histarmar". www.histarmar.com.ar.
- ^ "Indice General de Histarmar". www.histarmar.com.ar.