Dokken (DAC ship)

Dokken was an East Indiaman of the Danish Asiatic Company, built at Andreas Bodenhoff's Dockyard in 1742. She vanished on the way back from her fourth expedition to Tranquebar in Danish India, in 1751, between the Cape of Good Hope and Europe.

Construction and design

Dokken was constructed at Andreas Bjørn's dockyard at Bjørns Plads. She was immediately sold for 17,800 rigsdaler to the Danish Asiatic Company. She was the first of three frigates acquired by the Danish Asiatic Company from Bjørn's dockyard. The two others were Trankebar and København, both acquired in 1743. Dokken was named for Copenhagen's new dry dock, which had been inaugurated to great festivities in 1738.[1]

DAC career

Dokken was sent to Danish India four times. She was under the command of captain Niels Haagensen Due on all four expeditions.[1]

Dokken departed from Copenhagen on 20 December 1742. She called at Helsingør for the last supplies and possibly to await more favorable wind conditions. She saluted Kronborg on the 30 January, marking the beginning of her voyage. She carried a cargo with a total value of 100,000 rigsdaler, consisting of silver (92,891 rigsdaler, 93 %), other metals (5,264 rigsdaler), wine and alcohol (1,276 rigsdaler), ship components (80 rigsdaler) and "other goods" (489 rigsdaler).[2]

Dokken arrived at Tranquebar on 26 September 1743. She departed from Tranquebar on 6 February 1744. It is not known when exactly she arrived back in Copenhagen. The DAC's share of the return cargo was sold at auction for 233,070 rigsdaler.[2]

Dokken saluted Kronborg on 9 February 1745, marking the beginning of her second expedition to Tranquebar. She carried a cargo with a total value of 100,000 rigsdaler, consisting of silver (93,092 rigsdaler, 93 %), other metals (5,360 rigsdaler), wine and alcohol (1,532 rigsdaler) and "other goods" (16 rigsdaler).

Fate

Dokken vanished on the way back from her fourth expedition to Tranquebar, in 1751, between the Cape of Good Hope and Eirope.[1]