The *Star of Bengal* was an iron three-masted merchant sailing vessel constructed in Belfast in 1874 by Harland and Wolff Industries, the same shipyard that later built the Titanic. She had a gross tonnage of 1,877 GRT, with a length of approximately 262.8 feet (80.1 meters), a beam of 40.2 feet (12.3 meters), and a depth of 23.5 feet (7.2 meters). Originally built as a full-rigged ship with three decks and a crew capacity of seventeen, her hull featured a 9-inch-deep keel and was designed for robust oceanic voyages. Her initial construction included three cement bulkheads, although after her overhaul in 1898, only one bulkhead remained, and her hull was reinforced with 200 long tons of stiffening material. Initially owned by J.P. Corry & Co., Belfast, she primarily operated on the London-Calcutta route, with occasional trips to Melbourne, Bombay, and Valparaíso. Her maiden voyage commenced on April 25, 1874, sailing from London to Melbourne, then returning to Liverpool. Throughout her service with J.P. Corry, the *Star of Bengal* was among the largest vessels operated by the company, with an average voyage duration of nearly eight months. In 1898, after the decline of sailing ships in favor of steam, she was purchased by the San Francisco-based J.J. Smith & Co. and re-rigged from a full-rigged ship to a barque to reduce operational costs. She was overhauled with new decks and a reduced number of bulkheads, and her crew operated primarily in hauling grain and coal along the Pacific Coast. In 1905, the vessel was sold to the Alaska Packers' Association, which used her seasonally for transporting workers, supplies, and canned salmon to and from Alaskan fish canneries. Her final voyage began in April 1908, but on September 20, 1908, during her return trip from Fort Wrangell to San Francisco, the *Star of Bengal* encountered a storm while in tow near Coronation Island. She struck rocks and sank, with approximately 110 lives lost out of 138 aboard. The disaster remains one of the worst maritime tragedies in Alaskan history, and her wreck lies in the treacherous waters of Alaska, marking a significant event in maritime history.

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