The SULTANA or sometimes given as SULTANAH was built in 1833 at Bombay on the east India Company Dockyard as part of Sayyid Sai’d’s Muscat Navy.
Tonnage 312 ton (bm), barque rigged (some sources give her as sloop, ship or corvette.)
A handsome looking vessel built of teak wood.
Armament differed over the years,1833 carried 10 guns, 1835 – 18 guns, 1839 – 14 guns and 1852 – 10 guns.
Crew 40.
The Muscat (Oman) navy at that time had a dual naval and merchant purpose; his land included not only Muscat but also Zanzibar.
In 1839 Sayyid Sai’d ruler of Oman ordered his ship the SULTANA to set sail for America on a trade mission.
February 1840 she sailed with on board the ambassador Ahmad bin Na’man al-Ka’bi and sailed around Cape of Good Hope to New York, where she arrived on 30 April 1840.
The voyage was not a commercial success but its marks the point of successful friendly relations between the two countries that continue to this day.
The SULTANA’s voyage to the US was one of the first of several attempts to introduce direct Oman trade with western countries.
Twice the SULTANA visited London in 1838 and 1840, she made a visit to Bombay in 1839 and 1852.
She was wrecked off Wasin Island an island near Dar-es-Salaam, east coast of Africa on her return voyage from India in circa 1855.
Oman 1986 50b sg 323, scott 288 and 1990 200b sg 384, scott 339
Sources: MARHST-L list. Mr. A von Mach and Mike’s Library.