Pamir (ship)
Pamir c. 1949. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Germany | |
| Name | Pamir |
| Namesake | Pamir Mountains |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Launched | 29 July 1905 |
| Italy | |
| Acquired | 1920, as war reparations |
| Germany | |
| Acquired | F. Laeisz Company, 1924 |
| Finland | |
| Acquired | Erikson Line, 1931 |
| New Zealand | |
| Acquired | Seized as prize of war, 3 August 1941 |
| Finland | |
| Acquired | Erikson Line, 1948 |
| West Germany | |
| Owner | Heinz Schliewen |
| Acquired | 1951 |
| West Germany | |
| Owner | Stiftung Pamir und Passat |
| Acquired | 1954 |
| Fate | Sunk 1957 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Steel hulled barque |
| Tons burthen | 3910 bm |
| Length | 114.5 m (375 ft) LOA |
| Beam | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Draft | 7.25 m (23.5 ft) |
| Propulsion | Top speed 16 knots (30 km/h); cruise speed 8-9 knots. |
| Sail plan | Four-masted barque, 3,800 m² (40,900 ft²) of sails |
Pamir was a four-masted barque built for the German shipping company F. Laeisz. One of their famous Flying P-Liners, she was the last commercial sailing ship to round Cape Horn, in 1949. By 1957, she had been outmoded by modern bulk carriers and could not operate at a profit. Her shipping consortium's inability to finance much-needed repairs or to recruit sufficient sail-trained officers caused severe technical difficulties. On 21 September 1957, she was caught in Hurricane Carrie and sank off the Azores, with only six survivors rescued after an extensive search.