The SS Arratoon Apcar was an iron-hulled merchant vessel constructed in Scotland in 1861 by James Henderson & Son at their Renfrew yard (yard number 36). Launched on June 27, 1861, she measured approximately 261.7 feet (79.8 meters) in length, with a beam of 35.1 feet (10.7 meters) and a depth of 25.0 feet (7.6 meters). Her tonnage was 1,493 gross register tons (GRT) and 959 net register tons (NRT). The ship was designed as a sail-steamer, equipped with three masts and powered by a steam engine rated at 250 NHP, making her a hybrid vessel of her era. Initially owned by Apcar and Company of Bombay, India, she was registered in Calcutta and named after a member of the Apcar family. Her UK official number was 43924, and her code letters were TRBG. In 1873, her ownership transferred to Henry Frederick Swan, and her registration moved to London. During this period, she was re-engined by Black, Hawthorn & Co of Gateshead with a two-cylinder compound engine rated at 160 NHP, and her rigging was changed to a barquentine configuration. Her service record culminated in her tragic wreck in February 1878. While en route from Liverpool to Havana with a cargo of coal, Captain Pottinger miscalculated the approach to Fowey Rocks off Hawk Channel. The ship grounded on the reef, dangerously close to the construction site of the Fowey Rocks Light. The crew spent three days attempting to pump her out before abandoning her in lifeboats. The vessel was ultimately pushed onto the reef by heavy seas and broke apart, resulting in her being a total loss by March 12, 1878. The crew was rescued by the ship Tappahannock. Today, her wreck lies in shallow waters near Fowey Rocks, at depths of 10 to 20 feet. The site, often called Arakanapka, is a popular scuba diving and snorkeling location within Biscayne National Park’s Shipwreck Trail. The remains include the lower hull and iron frames encrusted with coral, providing an accessible glimpse into maritime history and ship construction of the late 19th century.

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