The Columbus was a disposable ship built in 1824 to transport timber from British North America to the United Kingdom.

She was intended to be dismantled upon arrival and her considerable structure sold, thus avoiding an import duty on timber cargoes.

Columbus was ten times the size of traditional timber-carrying cargo vessels and was built for economy, not speed.

To take advantage of this a merchant decided to construct a large timber vessel as a disposable ship, to be sailed from British North America to Britain where she would be dismantled and sold.

Columbus was grounded at Bersimis on the St Lawrence River on 9 September but was refloated and continued her journey three days later.

[1] Instead of dismantling it was decided to send Columbus back to North America for a second load of timber, against the advice of Captain Wood.

When a severe roll put the steam engine out of action Munro decided he had no alternative and ordered his crew to abandon ship.

However the Dolphin carried only a modest quantity of water and food for her 13-man crew and it was clear that they had insufficient to make it to her destination, which was also St John.