|
The Jeanie Johnston is a replica of a three masted
barque that was originally built in Quebec, Canada in 1847 by the
Scottish-born shipbuilder John Munn
The building of the replica ship began with in-depth research in
1993, and culminated in the completion of the vessel in 2002. An
international team of young people, linking Ireland North and South,
the United States, Canada and many other countries, built the
replica under the supervision of experienced shipwrights.
The ship was designed by Fred Walker former Chief Naval Architect
with the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England. The
recreation project was modelled closely on that of the 17th century
ship, the Batavia.
The ship is built with larch planks on oak frames. To comply with
current international maritime regulations, some concessions to
modernity had to be made. She has two Caterpillar main engines, two
Caterpillar generators, and an emergency generator that is located
above the waterline in the forward deckhouse. She is fully compliant
to the highest standards of modern ocean-going passenger ships, with
steel water-tight bulkheads, down-flooding valves, and fire-fighting
equipment.
In 2002 the replica Jeanie Johnston sailed from Tralee to
Canada and the USA. She has taken part in the Tall Ships Race and is
currently operating as a sail training ship.
Other notable Irish tall ships or sail training ships are the
Asgard II, the Dunbrody, the Lord Rank(N.I.) and
the Creidne(I.N.S.).
A wooden plaque is mounted on the foremast listing some of the
many people involved in the physical building of the ship. Many
people gave time, money and support to the project. |
