The Ocean, launched in 1802 in Quebec, was a notable merchant and transport vessel during the early 19th century. Constructed for long-distance trade, she first appears in Lloyd’s Register in 1804 under the ownership of J. Walker, with M'Taggart serving as her master, and was primarily engaged in trade between London and India. She was repaired in 1804 by Brent, preparing her for her service with the British East India Company (EIC), for which she made five voyages between 1804 and 1814 under the command of Captain Thomas McTaggart. During her EIC voyages, Ocean sailed on routes from Portsmouth to Madras, Bengal, and other destinations in India and the Indian Ocean. Her voyages took her across notable ports such as Madeira, St Helena, Saugor, Diamond Harbour, and Calcutta, with her first voyage commencing in September 1804, shortly after receiving a letter of marque on the same date, reflecting her role during the Napoleonic Wars. She completed multiple voyages, often returning to the Downs in England by late 1805, 1807, 1809, 1812, and 1814. In 1814, her owners sold Ocean, and she transitioned to a broader trade route under a license from the EIC, following the loss of the EIC's monopoly in 1813. She underwent a significant repair in 1815 and then sailed to Port Jackson in Australia in January 1816, transporting 220 convicts with only one fatality. After her convict transportation, she continued trading between London and India under her new master, Alexander Johnson, and remained active in maritime trade until at least 1824. Ocean's last listing appeared in 1825, marking the end of her documented service. Throughout her career, Ocean played a significant role in both commercial trade and convict transportation during a period of considerable change in maritime commerce and colonial expansion.

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