Vulcan

Vulcan, the first iron-built vessel ever constructed and as such a landmark in the history of shipbuilding. In 1816 a committee set up by the Forth and Clyde Canal Company recommended the construction of an experimental fast passage barge of iron, at the time a completely unknown material in shipbuilding. Her ‘gestation period’ of nearly three years enabled the designs to be assessed and someone sought to build her. A young shipwright, Thomas Wilson (1781–1873), was appointed and, with the aid of two blacksmiths, he started work in 1818 on the 20-metre (66-ft 6-in.) barge which was laid down near Coatbridge on the bank of the Monkland Canal. She was built throughout with plates and sections forged from puddled iron blooms, and everything was riveted, the constructional technique differing little from all later iron and steel vessels. As there were no iron rolling mills, every item had to be forged by the two blacksmiths, which made the appropriately named Vulcan one of the most labour-intensive ships ever built. She was launched in May 1819 and was an outstanding success, first as a horse-drawn passenger ship between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and later as a cargo carrier. She was broken up in 1873. A replica was constructed in 1988. See also charlotte dundas.

Fred M. Walker