The Ceres, launched in 1797 as an East Indiaman, was a robust vessel built for the British East India Company, serving notably in nine voyages before being hulked in 1816. While specific details of her dimensions are not provided, her repeated voyages to India and China suggest a vessel of considerable size and capacity typical of East Indiamen of the period, designed to carry cargo and passengers across long distances. Constructed in 1797, Ceres demonstrated a resilient and versatile design, capable of undertaking multiple lengthy and arduous voyages. Her service record begins with her maiden voyage in 1797–1798, under Captain George Stevens, where she sailed from Portsmouth to Madras and China, anchoring at major ports including Penang, Malacca, and Whampoa. Notably, she was briefly hired by the British government to participate in an attack on Manila, which was forestalled by a peace treaty with Spain; during this delay, she was detained for 59 days and paid demurrage. Throughout her operational life, Ceres completed eight additional voyages, each involving complex navigation through key Asian ports such as Bombay, Penang, Malacca, and Whampoa. Her routes often included stops at strategic locations like St Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, and Bencoolen. She occasionally carried letters of marque, indicating her potential for armed defense amid the geopolitical tensions of the Napoleonic Wars. Ceres’s voyages were characterized by precise timing and extensive port calls, reflecting her role as a dependable carrier for the EIC. Her final voyage in 1815–1816 saw her returning from China, after which she discharged her crew and was eventually sold for use as a hulk. Her long service life and repeated voyages underscore her importance as a reliable maritime workhorse of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, contributing significantly to British trade and colonial enterprise in Asia.

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