Sailing Ships Converted to Oil Carriers
The Falls of Clyde is unique because she is currently the only example of a sail-driven oil tanker left in the world. She was converted from a cargo vessel to a tanker in 1907 after being sold by Matson to Associated Oil.
The following article from the 20 January 1908 issue of The Honolulu Advertiser addresses the possibility of more of Matson’s sailing ships being repurposed as tankers to transport oil to Hawai‘i from California.
Transcript:
MAY USE FOR OIL
With the transfer of the vessels of the Planters’ line to the Matson interests, it is likely that there will be a big change in the character of the cargo which will be carried by the sailing vessels. It will be remembered that it was not many years ago that Matson controlled a number of sailing vessels, among them were the Roderick Dhu, Falls of Clyde, Annie Johnson and several others. When Matson bought the Enterprise and the Hilonian, which are now running between San Francisco and these islands, the sailing ships were converted into oil carriers.
In the present instance Matson has bought the Planters’ line, which carries with it the contracts for carrying sugar. He has also the new steamer Lurline, soon to come out from the East and which will be able to carry 6000 tons of sugar in a single cargo. It seems very likely that the [R.P.] Rithet and the other ships of the Planters’ line will follow the same steps that were taken with the sailing ships, which he formerly owned and will be turned over to the Associated Oil Company, in which Captain Matson is heavily interested, and be used to bring fuel to this city.
