Pig iron ballast HMB ENDEAVOUR

Production date
Pre 1768
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Object detail

Description
In 1770, on her homeward voyage, HMB ENDEAVOUR ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef off the east coast of northern Australia. The ship began to take on water. To lighten the ship quickly in order to refloat her, Captain Cook was forced to abandon six cannons, an anchor and 40 -50 tons of other ballast. For 200 years these items remained lost, defying many attempts to find them, until they were discovered in 1969 by a team from the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. Ballast is used for improving the stability and handling of a ship. Records from the voyage of ENDEAVOUR show that she carried both iron and stone ballast.

Ballast is used for improving the stability and handling of a ship. Records from the voyage of ENDEAVOUR show that she carried both iron and stone as ballast.
Accession number
1997.109
Museum System ID
13513
Collection type
Objects
Classification
Stone, Ballast
Media/Material details
iron
Media/Materials
Iron: 0 - Whole
Measurements
720mm x 140mm x 140mm
Measurement details
3D objects (HxWxD): H 720 x W 140 x D 140mm: 0 - Whole
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On display

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