History and Reconstruction of Cutty Sark - Essay Example

In the United States, clipper ships “represents a powerful symbol of American ingenuity and entrepreneurship. A pivotal moment in American maritime history, the clipper ship era is a story charged with national pride, romance, competition, and rapidly changing technology” (Curtis 2004). Its invention was a critical focal point in the development of the global economy. The Suez Canal was opened in the year 1869 that provided short-cut routes for countries of distant locations, setting off the competition between steam-mobilized liners and clipper ships.

However, this was also the period when clipper ships were seldom preferred for commercial purposes. One of the last clipper ships built for opium trading functions in China to England was the Cutty Stark. BRIEF HISTORY OF CUTTY STARK Cutty Sark was considered to be “one of the most famous of the great clippers…” (History 2012). Her construction was completed in 1869 by the order of the shipping mogul Jock Willis. During this time, Cutty Stark was one of the fastest clipper ships in England, initially built for the purpose of tea trade between China and England.

Nevertheless, due to the opening of Suez Canal 1 by the same year, steam-mobilized ships had an easier and shorter course for China which resulted into a short-lived maritime trade bustle of Cutty Sark. She then was shifted for wool business in Australia where she operated for ten years. It was one of the last clipper ships created for the tea trade between England and China from 1840 to 1870. Its first touch of the seabed took place on its launching on November 22, 1869 afternoon in Dumbarton.

Since the Suez Canal opened, it cut the travel period of steam vessels to the Far East overwhelmingly (History 2012, para. 3). Also, “the winds of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean were not suited to the clippers though” (History 2012, para. 3) and which resulted into her pitiable revenues in the 1870s. Consequently, its journey to Australia for wool trade acquired the upper hand, “setting speed records between London and Melbourne and Sydney (History 2012). For ten years, Cutty Sark held prevalent reputation and prominence because of its fast tours.

Nevertheless, in 1895, Cutty Sark’s speed gradually waned and had become less rewarding. Following the zenith of her success, Cutty Sark completely lost its sense of residence. She was sold several times to companies and people including Captain Dowman, who after recollecting Cutty Sark’s heydays, “brought her to Falmouth, where she was restored and opened to the public” (History 2012). After Dowman’s demise in 1936, Cutty Sark was then transferred to a “navy Training College at Greenhithe” (History 2012, para. 7) and was used for maritime training by the students of the college.

A FIRE DESTROYED CUTTY SARK On 21 May 2007, the iconic Cutty Shark, which was temporarily closed for a maintenance work, shocked everyone when it grabbed hold of a fire and burned down for many hours before the fire was contained by the London Fire Brigade. The fire-fighters battled the fire for more than two hours. “Fire-fighters were called to the scene at 0445 BST and the flames were put out by 0700 2 BST” (BBC News 2007). The Fire Brigade of London together with the Metropolitan police, after analysing the CCTV video, initially concluded that “arson” was a possibility; nevertheless, they were not able to gather proofs that would