The Star of India is an iron-hulled sailing vessel constructed in 1863 by Gibson, McDonald & Arnold in Ramsey, Isle of Man. Originally launched as the full-rigged ship Euterpe, she was built for the Indian jute trade, featuring a traditional square-rigged design with three masts. Her hull is composed of iron, making her the oldest merchant ship of her kind still afloat and still sailing regularly. She measures approximately 400 feet in length with a full rig of square sails on all three masts initially, though she was later re-rigged as a barque, which involves a combination of square and fore-and-aft sails. Euterpe's early career was marked by adversity, including a collision off Wales that damaged her rigging and a gale in the Bay of Bengal that forced her to cut away her masts; her captain, William John Storry, died during her return voyage to England. After these initial setbacks, she was sold multiple times, serving in various capacities including passenger and freight transport between Britain, New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific. She completed 21 voyages to New Zealand, often carrying emigrants, and was known for her long, sometimes 100-to-143-day passages. In 1901, she was sold to the Alaska Packers' Association, which re-rigged her as a barque, and renamed her Star of India in 1906. She primarily transported salmon, lumber, coal, and supplies between California and Alaska until her retirement in 1926. Afterward, she was acquired by the Zoological Society of San Diego with plans to turn her into a museum, a project delayed by economic hardships until restoration efforts began in the 1950s. Restored by 1963, she now resides at the Maritime Museum of San Diego as a fully operational museum ship. Today, Star of India is recognized as a California Historical Landmark and a United States National Historic Landmark. She is notable for being the oldest ship still sailing regularly and the oldest iron-hulled merchant vessel afloat. Her nearly original hull and equipment, combined with her long service history, make her a significant maritime artifact. She serves as an educational platform and a symbol of maritime heritage, often sailing within sight of San Diego's coast and hosting tours and community events.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.