A starboard bow view of the Norwegian barque Polykarp (1880) alongside the south pier in the inner harbour at Penzance. The rigging is a mess where the main top mast and foremast has broken and are still suspended in the rigging. The bowsprit is also broken with the lower partly angled over the starboard bow. The jibs, all furled, are also over the side. The ship is low in the water, having arrived waterlogged.

The Norwegian barque Polykarp was on voyage from Barry to Pernambuco when, on 29 December 1900 it was seen being towed into Penzance full of water. The ship had encountered a gale that had blown most of the sails and the pumps had become choked with coal dust, resulting in 10 feet of water in the hull. The Porthleven RNLI lifeboat was in attendance, taking two men ashore. On 30 December the ship was towed into Penzance harbour by tugs. The ship in its distressed state was then put up for auction, to be sold on 15 February 1901 at Penzance.