The Cumberland was a sailing vessel constructed in India in 1827, with probable construction at Cochin, though Surat is also a possibility. She was built as a merchant ship with a focus on trade between England and India, and she was registered in Britain after her arrival. Her specifications are not detailed on the Wikipedia page, but she was active as a trading vessel during her brief service life. Initially, Cumberland entered Lloyd’s Register in 1827, under the command of Master A. Steel, owned by Steel & Co., and engaged in trade between London and Bombay under a license from the British East India Company. Her voyages included sailing from London to Bombay, with her departure recorded on November 5, 1827. She also undertook voyages to Swan River, arriving there on October 12, 1829, carrying passengers from Bombay. Throughout her service, Cumberland was involved in regional trade, including transporting rice from Gujarat to markets such as Sydney, which she reached on November 7, 1829. She arrived in Sydney with a cargo of approximately 580,000 liters of rice, and her subsequent voyage involved carrying coal, cattle, and a printing press intended for Fremantle. She set sail from Newcastle on February 2, 1830, but did not stop at Fremantle; instead, she turned toward India near Cape Leeuwin. Her service ended tragically on March 4, 1830, when Cumberland struck a ledge about 1.9 kilometers off Deepdene Beach, near Cape Leeuwin, while en route from Sydney to Bombay. The damage was severe enough that Captain Anthony Steel decided to abandon the ship on March 5. Steel, the chief officer, and 29 crew members (including lascars) and one passenger evacuated in boats, reaching Swan River on March 7. The remaining crew and another passenger landed at Cape Naturaliste after a perilous journey, with three crew members dying from exhaustion before rescue at Port Leschenault. The ship’s wreck marked a significant maritime accident of the period, illustrating the hazards faced by ships navigating the treacherous waters off southwestern Australia. Overall, Cumberland’s brief but active career highlights her role in early 19th-century regional trade, including the transport of goods such as rice, coal, and cattle, and exemplifies the perilous nature of maritime commerce 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.