Ship replica

A ship replica is a reconstruction of a no longer existing ship. Replicas can range from authentically reconstructed, fully seaworthy ships, to ships of modern construction that give an impression of an historic vessel. Some replicas may not even be seaworthy, but built for other educational or entertainment purposes.

Reasons to build a replica include historic research into shipbuilding, national pride, exposition at a museum or entertainment (e.g., for a TV series), and/or education programs for the unemployed. For example, see the project to build a replica of the Continental brig Andrew Doria.[1] Apart from building a genuine replica of the ship, sometimes the construction materials, tools and methods can also copied from the ships' original era, as is the case with the replica of the Batavia in Lelystad and the replica of ship of the line Delft[2] in Rotterdam (Delfshaven).

Contents

Definition

The term "replica" in this context does not normally include scale models. The term museum ship is used for an old ship that has been preserved and converted into a museum open to the public.

A ship replica may also be a generic replica, one that represents a certain type of ship rather than a particular historic example, like the Kamper Kogge, replicating the Cogs that were used extensively in Northern Europe by the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages, but where there is little knowledge of specific ships.

Some generic type replicas such as Thor Heyerdahl's Ra II, qualify as true replicas as these ships were built to investigate the craft and or culture of the original era. That they do not replicate a specific vessel is mainly because no details of such a specific vessel are available.

Some other ships that are modeled after ships of a certain type or era (and are in that sense replicas) do not quality as true replicas. Some ships may be borderline cases, such as the Kanrin Maru, which is actually twice the size of the original, but built following the plans of the original.

Replicas can be temporary, cheap and very simple, such as the replica of a Viking ship that was burnt at the Leixlip Festival.

Notable historic type ships that are not replicas include:

Another ambiguous case subject to the Ship of Theseus dilemma is the US Brig Niagara. The original was sunk in 1820 for preservation, and the ship has been rebuilt three times since. The third reconstruction was considerably more extensive, and the only parts from the original which were retained are non-structural, leading many authorities to classify her as a replica, rather than a reconstructed original.

Notable ship replicas

Some sailing ship replicas with their home port; and key information of the original (many articles are about the original ship):

Europe, Middle East, Australia, America

It was commissioned as part of the 500th Anniversary Jubillee of the Voyage of Christopher Columbus, in 1992.

Ship name Type Current porta Current affiliation Country Original affiliation Original built Notable for End Remark
Ra II Reed boat Oslo, Norway Bygdøy maritime museum
app. 4000BC
Ancient Egypt merchant. Heyerdahl crossed Atlantic in it
app. 2000BC
Class replica
ULUBURUN II[1] Merchant Bodrum, Turkey Bodrum Underwater Archaeological Museum
app. 14th century BC
Late Bronze Age merchant
sank app. 1316-1305 BC
Oldest known merchant shipwreck.
Olympias Trireme Faliro, Greece
app. 700BC
Main warship of ancient Greece
app. 400BC
Class replica
Kyrenia II Merchant ?
app. 4th century BC
Merchant ship of ancient Greece
sank app. 288BC
Sea Stallion from Glendalough Viking ship Roskilde Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde
1042 in Dublin Ireland
Main warship of the Viking age
was scuttled in Roskilde Fjord app. 1100
Lisa von Lübeck Caravel Lübeck, Germany
app. 1200
Main medieval merchant
app. 1500
Class replica
Kamper Kogge Hanseatic cog Kampen, the Netherlands
app. 1200
Main medieval merchant
app. 1500
Class replica
Santa María Carrack 1)Palos de la Frontera, Spain 2)Columbus, Ohio, US 3)Edmonton, Canada 4)Funchal, Portugal
app. 1490
Columbus 1492 squadron
ran aground 1492
Several replicas, all based on conjectures
Pinta Caravel 1)Palos de la Frontera, Spain 2)Bayona, Spain
app. 1490
Columbus 1492 squadron Several replicas, all based on conjectures
Niña Caravel 1)Palos de la Frontera, Spain 2)Grand Cayman, UK
app. 1490
Columbus 1492 squadron Several replicas, all based on conjectures
Matthew Bristol, UK
app. 1495
John Cabot's ship to America in 1497
Victoria Carrack Seville, Spain
app. 1515
Only survivor of Magellan's 1519-1522 travel Achieved to survive the circumnavigation of the globe again in 2006.
Grande Hermine carrack Jordan Harbour, Ontario c.1520 brought Jacques Cartier to Saint-Pierre on 15 June 1535 abandoned, vandalised and arsoned, beached
Real Galley Barcelona, Spain
app. 1570
Flagship of Don John of Austria in the Battle of Lepanto
Golden Hinde Galleon London, UK
app. 1575
1577-1580 circumnavigation
Duyfken East Indies Explorer Perth, Australia
1595
discovery of Australia 1606
irreparable damage 1608
Discovery Barque Jamestown, USA Jamestown Settlement museum
1602
first permanent English settlement in North America, 1607
Godspeed Brigantine Jamestown, USA Jamestown Settlement museum
app 1605
first permanent English settlement in North America, 1607 The 1984/85 replica sailed the Atlantic (without the aid of engines) departing London on April 30, 1985 with a crew of 14.
Susan Constant Merchant Jamestown, USA Jamestown Settlement museum
app 1605
first permanent English settlement in North America, 1607
Halve Maen Maine to Virginia Explorer Albany, USA
app 1608
original explorer of what is now called the Hudson River, Henry Hudson, 1609
Mayflower II Merchant Plymouth, MA, USA
app 1607?
Pilgrim ship 1620
dismantled 1623?
Kalmar Nyckel Dutch Pinnace 280 tonne ship rigged Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, USA
1625
Founded New Sweden colony at Fort Christina (Wilmington, Delaware, USA)
late 17th century
Charters, Daysails, Appearances
Batavia East Indies Merchant Lelystad, The Netherlands
1628
mutiny 1629
wrecked 1629
Prins Willem East Indies Merchant Den Helder, the Netherlands
1649
sank 1662
replica destroyed in fire, July 2009
Nonsuch Merchant Winnipeg, Canada Manitoba Museum
1650
First trading in Hudson Bay 1668-69
unknown (possibly sunk in 1670's)
De Zeven Provinciën Ship of the Line (80 guns) Lelystad, the Netherlands
1665
Flagship of Michiel de Ruyter
decommissioned 1694
Under construction
Götheborg East Indies Merchant Gothenburg, Sweden Globetrotter
SOIC
app. 1740
sank 1745
Sail training vessel (volunteers)
Amsterdam East Indies Merchant Amsterdam, the Netherlands Scheepvaart Museum
1749
grounded 1749
Lady Washington Brig Aberdeen, USA
Private Owner
app 1750
first US merchant to reach Japan
foundered 1798
Jacobstads Wapen Galeas Jakobstad, Finland
app. 1750
Surprise/Rose Frigate San Diego, USA San Diego Maritime Museum
1757
1776 attack New York. Master and Commander
scuttled 1779
Renamed Surprise after movie
HMS Sultana Schooner Chestertown, USA
1767
US colony coast patrol auctioned 1772
Endeavour Bark Sydney, Australia Australian National Maritime Museum
1768
Captain Cook's ship
unclear
Endeavour Bark Stockton-on-tees, United Kingdom
1768
Captain Cook's ship
unclear
Hector Fluyt Pictou, Canada Ship Hector Foundation
ca.1770
Immigrant Ship
l'Hermione 12-pounder Concorde class frigate Rochefort, France L'Association Hermione-La Fayette 1779
frigate
sank 1792 Under Construction
Delft Ship of the Line (56-gun) Rotterdam, the Netherlands Scheepswerf De Delft[2]
1783
Battle of Camperdown
sank 1797
Under Construction
Bounty Armed Transport 1) Greenport, New York, 2) Discovery Bay, Hong Kong
1787
Mutiny 1789
burned 1790
Maryland Federalist Miniature square rigger Maryland State House, Annapolis, USA Maryland State Archives
1788
Original vessel presented as a gift to George Washington Original vessel sunk in a storm in the Potomac River in 1788
Grand Turk Frigate Saint-Malo, France
app. 1790
Generic Nelson age war ship replica
used in Hornblower
Lady Nelson Brig Tasmania, Australia
1799
Explored Australian coastline 1825 capture by pirates
Lynx Schooner Newport Beach, USA
app 1810
UK blockade running privateer
Pride of Baltimore II Topsail Schooner Baltimore, USA
app 1812
UK blockade running privateer Type replica
Niagara Brig Erie, Pennsylvania, USA Erie Maritime Museum
1813
Battle of Lake Erie Sunk for preservation 1820, rebuilt three times since Sail training vessel and museum
USS Monitor Ironclad warship Newport News, Virginia, USA Mariners' Museum
1862
Battle of Hampton Roads Original vessel sunk in storm off Cape Hatteras, NC, 13 Dec 1862, rediscovered 1973; propeller, anchor, engine, turret, cannons and other artifacts raised 1998, 2001 and 2002, displayed or undergoing restoration at Mariners' Museum[5][6] full-size exterior replica; museum exhibit
Amistad Schooner New Haven, USA
private owner
app 1825
Involved in Slave trading incident 1839 unknown after 1844
Enterprize Schooner Melbourne, Australia
Enterprize Trust, Melbourne
1829
Transported European settlers to Melbourne Replica of Australian built ship. Charters, School Trips, daysails
William the Fourth Steam Paddle Wheeler Newcastle, NSW, Australia Newcastle City Council
25 px
1831
Ocean going steam powered side paddlewheeler Replica of Australian built ship
Pilgrim Brig Dana Point, USA Ocean Institute
Private owner
1825
1834 memoir by Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
burned at sea 1856
Used in Amistad movie
Dunbrody Barque New Ross, Ireland
Private owner
1845
Famine Ship
Grounded 1875, Labrador
A Famine History Museum
Jeanie Johnston Barque Dublin, Ireland
Dublin Docklands Development Authority[7]
1847
Famine Ship Sail Training vessel, a Famine History Museum and a Corporate Entertainment venue
Californian Schooner San Diego, USA patrolled Californian coast app. 1850 based on C.W. Lawrence
Bluenose II Schooner Lunenburg, Canada
1921
Winning Racing Schooner
grounded 1946
Fundraising for Bluenose III

a If more than one replica is made the home port of the different current ports are given in a numbered list

Asia

Other

Other vessels

At the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, replicas of Viking ships are built.

See also

References

External links