The Marco Polo was followed across the Atlantic by numerous other Nova Scotian built ships from the yards of W. & R. Wright and Smith.
The most notable of these were the Ben Nevis, which arrived during the summer of 1852, and the Star of the East, Miles Barton, Guiding Star and Indian Queen, which arrived at Liverpool in 1853. All these ships were intended to lower the colours of Marco Polo, but not one of them succeeded in doing so, though they made some very good passages.
“Ben Nevis.”
The Ben Nevis was the first ship owned by Pilkington & Wilson. She was, however, too short and deep for her tonnage, her measurements being:—
| Length over all | 181 feet. |
| Beam | 38 feet 6 inches. |
| Depth of hold | 28 feet. |
| Registered tonnage | 1420. |
Commanded by Captain Heron, she sailed for Melbourne on 27th September, 1852, with 600 passengers, a cabin passage in her costing £25, and she took 96 days going out.
The “Star of the East.”
A far more worthy ship to compete with the Marco Polo was the Star of the East, which arrived in Liverpool on 5th March, 1853, 20 days out from St. John’s against strong N.E. winds. She was built by W. &. R. Wright, her dimensions being:—
| Length of keel | 206 feet. |
| Length over all | 237 „ |
| Beam | 40 feet 10 in. |
| Depth of hold | 22 feet. |
| Registered tonnage | 1219 tons. |