Nearly 175 years after the Marco Polo departed the Bay of Fundy, the historic vessel has returned to the shores along the Saint John Harbour. It’s not the real ship, but a one-third sized replica that now sits proudly at Long Wharf along the Saint John Harbour Passage. It’s a passion project years in the making for Saint John City Councillor Barry Ogden, who began raising funds for the initiative well before his time in local office. “At times it was challenging, but after 40 years we feel really good,” says Ogden on efforts to rebuild the iconic ship. “I think we raised about, counting the film and all the design work we did for it, about $3.1 million.” Launched out of Saint John in 1851, the original vessel was built by James Smith. It was the most famous ship ever built in New Brunswick. That’s because the boat did the impossible. A year after leaving Saint John, the Marco Polo completed a round trip from England to Australia in under six months. It was the first ship to achieve such a feat earning it the title as the “Fastest Ship in the World.” The Marco Polo’s career was granted national historic significance status in 1990. While the project was spearheaded by Ogden, efforts to get the ship replica to where it is today has been a community effort. He says Ocean Steel helped build the ships cradle underneath, members of the Wolastoqey First Nation helped build deck cabins, while just this past week Saint John Energy helped erect the ship’s masts. Ogden says he is still trying to raise around $100,000 to finish up some things, like rigging and adding some spotlights on site. The ship arrived at its new permanent location earlier this summer after sitting in storages for years while searching for a home. When asked for his reasoning behind the project, Ogden says it’s important for residents to know about the city’s rich history when it comes to ship building. “We built the third largest fleet in the world, and this was the fastest ship in the world,” Ogden points out during the golden age of sail. “At a time right now where the city’s struggling, I think that we need that pride to build confidence.” The site of the Marco Polo replica dropping anchor in it’s final resting place is not only a welcomed site for Ogden and the residents of Saint John, but for local historian Greg Marquis. Marquis, who is a history professor at UNBSJ and the President of the New Brunswick Historical Society, says the replica is a visual reminder of the importance Saint John had as a shipbuilding and shipping centre. “We were way more important than Halifax in the overall picture of things, but a lot of that visual history is gone,” Marquis says. “It’s really great for a number of reasons that the Marco Polo is on the waterfront.” Marquis says New Brunswick should have unique things, like the ship replica, to celebrate the province’s heritage and history. He also points out it’s another great attraction for tourist to stop and learn about when walking around the uptown. “[This will} help with schools and education and just to remind us of our past,” he says. “So much of that past, and Saint John, because of the great fire and other things that has been swept away.” While the ship never returned to the Port City after departing in 1851, it did return to the Maritimes later in its life. Ultimately, the ship settled off the shores of Cavendish, P.E.I., following a wreck in 1883. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
