The luxurious junk Cheng Ho, Ah King shipyard built, Standard Oil connection…

Stephen Davies/Hugh Farmer

SD: The largest vessel I know for certain to have been built at the Ah King yard, in 1938/39, was the wonderful exploration junk Cheng Ho, 100ft long and with the most marvellous history.

She was built for Ann Archbold, daughter of the founder of Standard Oil to amazingly extravagant specs (some of the interior shots are of great luxury) who, “in 1939 … financed the construction of a diesel powered copy of a 15th-century Chinese junk, and supported, and participated in, two botanical cruises of the Cheng Ho in the East Indies and the Pacific, collecting seeds, cuttings, rooted plants, and tubers.” (1)

The story begins…”Even after traveling the world extensively, in the late 1930s [noted botanist] David Fairchild was still dreaming of collecting plants in the exotic islands of the Dutch East Indies. He had discussed his plans with many people, and in 1939 he felt the time was finally right for his trip.
Ann Archbold, daughter of the co-founder of Standard Oil, finally found the solution. She was enthusiastic about funding an expedition, and even participating herself, but it was apparent that this trip needed its own custom-built research ship. Ann agreed to have the ship built, and recruited Ted Kilkenny, an experienced yachtsman and adventurer, to build and captain the ship.

And what a ship it was! Built in the Ah King shipyard in Hong Kong, it was classified as a junk by naval architecture, but a yacht by Western standards. The Cheng Ho’s 100 foot length easily carried the 19 passengers and crew and included hand carved teak, Chinese porcelain and inlay work, electric lights, baths and showers, a laboratory for Dr. Fairchild, a darkroom, and many other exotic and comfortable furnishings. (2)

Anne Archbold 1873-1968 Courtesy: gloverparkhistory.com

And here the vessel in the Causeway Bay typhoon shelter not far from the RHKYC not long after launch.

The luxurious dining room with Ann Archbold

Fenton Kilkenny, probably the youngest member of the expedition and the only one still living (as of late 2009) at the helm of the junk.

Sources:

1. Anne Archbold – a biography
2. The History of the Cheng Ho expedition

See:

1. USS Cheng Ho/IX-5s wikipedia
2. The Cheng Ho Expedition – photographs
3. Members of the Cheng Ho expedition
4. David Fairchild -wikipedia

With thanks to the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Coral Gables, Florida, US http://www.fairchildgarden.org/Visit

This article was first posted on 2nd July 2015.

Related Indhhk articles:

1. Ah King’s Shipyard – first location 1891?-1925, west of HK Corinthian Yacht Club
2. Ah King’s Shipyard during the Japanese occupation 1942-1945 plus possible photo 1937
3. Ah King’s Shipyard – location 1925 to 1955?

Some other smaller Hong Kong shipyards:

1. Bailey’s Shipyard – 1908 Account
2. Kwong Tat Loong Shipyard (Brothers) Ltd – Tsing Yi – a HK industry in decline
3. The Acquisition and Clearance of Hong Kong shipyards – north Tsing Yi Island
4. Smaller Shipyards in Hong Kong during the Japanese Occupation 1942-1945