Hebe was a full-rigged merchant vessel with a tonnage of approximately 250 tons, constructed in 1803 at Chittagong. As a sailing ship of the early 19th century, she was rigged with multiple masts designed for long-distance trade, typical of merchant ships operating within the Indian Ocean and Australasia regions during that period. The ship's service history is marked by her final voyage in 1808, when she was transporting Indian goods from Madras to Sydney, Australia. This indicates her role in regional trade routes connecting India with Australia, facilitating the movement of goods such as textiles, spices, or other commodities typical of that era's maritime commerce. Hebe's notable and tragic end occurred on 15 June 1808, when she struck a reef located between Low Head and Western Head at the entrance to Port Dalrymple in Tasmania. The wreck resulted in the vessel becoming a total loss. Despite the severity of the incident, all crew members except for one lascar survived. They managed to escape the wreck and returned to Sydney aboard the vessel Estramina on 11 October 1808, with the ship's master, Joseph Leigh, among the survivors. The wreck of Hebe underscores the navigational hazards faced by maritime vessels of the period, especially in the challenging waters near Tasmania. Her loss also highlights the perils of early maritime trade routes and the importance of careful navigation in treacherous coastal areas. As a vessel, Hebe exemplifies the merchant shipping of the early 1800s operating in the Indian Ocean and Australasian waters, contributing to the understanding of maritime trade and exploration during that era.

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