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Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that the COLUMBIA (ESG Hull 981) a steel hull exact replica of the historic Gloucester Fishing Schooner, has completed her sailing trials. The sailing trials were held on September 18, 2014 directly offshore of the beaches of Panama City, Florida. Ninety-one years earlier, the original "COLUMBIA" was officially measured on October 27th, 1923 just before her race with the "BLUENOSE" by Raymond J. Milgate, a marine surveyor of Halifax, N.S.
The original COLUMBIA was a 141’ classic wooden hull Gloucester Fishing Schooner built at the historic A.D. Story shipyard of Essex, Massachusetts. The town of Essex was the center for North American Fishing Schooner construction. Designed by the innovative William Starling Burgess, the original COLUMBIA was bred for speed. In the fall of 1923, the COLUMBIA challenged the BLUENOSE, Canada’s legendary schooner in the International Fishermen's Cup Races held offshore of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Nearly winning the title, the COLUMBIA was narrowly defeated by the BLUENOSE and was one of the few American schooners to provide a real challenge to BLUENOSE.
Tragedy struck the promising young COLUMBIA on August 24, 1927 near Sable Island, the notorious “Graveyard of the Atlantic”, where the COLUMBIA was lost with all hands in a gale.
The COLUMBIA will continue to undergo final outfitting and delivery preparation this fall at Eastern. The COLUMBIA will also be exhibited at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show October 30th – November 3rd, 2014. Details can be found at the website below.
http://www.showmanagment.com/fort_lauderdale_international_boat_show/event/
Working with John W. Gilbert & Associates of Boston, Massachusetts, the design was re-engineered with a steel hull instead of wood. An engine room and staterooms were added to the design. Covey Island Boatworks of Lunenburg Nova Scotia built the rigging and spars. Blocks were fabricated by A. Dauphinee & Sons and all the sails were constructed by Michelle Stevens Sailloft, LTD, both from the Second Peninsula, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Teak decking was completed by Teakdecking Systems of Florida.
DESIGN DETAILS:
DIMENSIONS:
Length on Deck………………………………………………………. 141’-2”
Length @ Waterline ……………………………………………….. 110’-0”
Beam (Molded) ……………………………………………………… 25’-6”
Hull & Superstructure Construction …………………………. Steel, ABS Grade A-36
Main Mast ……………………. One (1) 17” x 124’-10”, Covey Island Boatworks, Douglas Fir Laminated Lower. Sitka Spruce Laminated Top Mast
Foremast ………………………. One (1) 17” x 115’-7”, Covey Island Boatworks, Douglas Fir Laminated Lower. Sitka Spruce Laminated Top Mast
CERTIFICATES/REGULATORY:
Registry/Flag/Certificate of Documentation: United States of America
CONSTRUCTION GUIDANCE:
The vessels hull, superstructure and underwater gear are designed constructed and Classed in accordance with the Lloyds Registry Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels.
“We got you Covered”
Eastern’s proven successful shipbuilding record stems from the fact that we are willing to accept any new challenge and are confident that we can successfully build and deliver any type of vessel that our Client’s require, both on time and on budget.
As Eastern moves into the future, we look forward to the continued diversification and growth of our portfolio of vessels which brings new challenges and ultimately grows the company. At Eastern, each employee starts and ends the day with the same goal in mind; work safe, work smart, and build the best vessel possible. Eastern currently has a total workforce of approx. 1,600 employees.
