List of vessels of the Bengal Pilot Service to 1834


The Bengal Pilot Service was an arm of the British East India Company. Its pilot boats were responsible for guiding East Indiamen, and other vessels, up and down the Hooghly River between Calcutta and the sea. The BPS vessels and their role were transferred to the Indian Navy in 1834.
The information in the tables below comes primarily from Phipps, or Hackman. The vessels listed are those one source or the other identified as serving the Bengal Pilot Service. Where the two sources disagree with respect to some datum such as year of launch, or burthen, the first datum mentioned is from Phipps and the second is from Hackman.

A & B

C

D — G

H & I

J — M

N — R

S — W

NameTypeTons burthen Year builtWhere builtRemarks
St David‡Ketch1742
Saugor†‡Brig2001836Bombay DockyardStill in BPS in 1851.
Sea Horse†‡Sloop1081749 or 1759Bombay1785 or July 1786 transferred to the French at Chandernagore
Sea Horse†‡Brig188, or 1884 February 1825Bombay DockyardStill in BPS in 1851.
Sophia†‡Brig1891814BombayLost on the Long Sand 1818
Speedwell†‡Schooner1071765Bombay DockyardSold to local buyers 1785
Sumatra‡Sloop1742Bombay
Swallow†Ship2001779BombayMarch 1780 dispatched to England; afterwards transferred to the Bombay Establishment; lost near Fultah c.1824
Swift‡Schooner1763Bombay DockyardConverted into a State yacht, or foundered in Balasore Roads 1766
Syren†‡Schooner or snow1753Bombay DockyardSold to local buyers 1769
Syren†Sloop1051783CalcuttaCondemned and sold 15 July 1796
Tannah†Schooner1421775BombayThe French captured her in February 1781; she was lost in 1782
Tartar‡Sloop1758
Thomas‡Sloop1684
Thomas‡Sloop1689River Thames
Torch†‡Brig167 or 1741815Bombay DockyardBuilt as a floating light vessel; converted into Harbour Master’s depot at Calcutta 1835; still in BPS in 1851.
Trial†‡ EIC packet1780160 or 160CalcuttaMade at least two voyages for the EIC; She returned to India 1786 and served the BPS; rebuilt 1796; the French privateer Apollon, Captain Jean-François Hodoul, captured Trial and Harrington in Balasore Roads on 9 November 1797.
Triton†Schooner1021770BombayCondemned and sold 19 January 1798
Tweed†‡Schooner1701788Bombay DockyardSold 2 September 1815
Udny†Brig1691802CalcuttaSold to local buyers 14 November 1814. In 1821 she was listed with W. Humble, master, and C. Taylor, owner; condemned and broken up at Calcutta 1821
William‡Smack1705
William‡Sloop1739Pegue