Pamir
The Pamir was a steel four-masted barque built in 1905 by Blohm and Voss in Hamburg. She would earn a place in maritime history as the last commercial square-rigged sailing vessel to round Cape Horn.
Construction and Specifications
The Pamir was constructed as a large cargo-carrying sailing vessel, typical of the final generation of commercial sailing ships.
Key Facts
| Specification | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Type | Steel 4-masted barque |
| Gross Tonnage | 2,798 tons |
| Length | 316 feet (96.3 meters) |
| Beam | 46 feet (14 meters) |
| Depth | 26 feet 2 inches (8 meters) |
Return to Finnish Flag
On November 12, 1948, the Pamir was returned to the Finnish flag by the New Zealand Government. She was then prepared for her final commercial voyage.
The Last Cape Horn Passage
On January 20, 1949, Mate Ake Liewendahl and a local crew signed on in New Zealand. The vessel departed Wellington on February 1 with 1,300 tons of sand and shingle ballast, arriving at Port Victoria 34 days later on March 6.
At Port Victoria, the Pamir loaded 60,000 bags of barley, with cargo lightered out by the vessels Coringle and Betty Joan. Additional seamen signed on locally: George Lee, James Inglis, Ross Osmond, Frederick Gunnar, Harold Suters, Stanley Davey, Keith McCoy, and American William Stark.
Under the command of Captain Verner Bjorkfelt, the Pamir departed on May 28, 1949, when favorable northerly winds replaced previous southerly conditions. The ship was initially down by the head, requiring cargo to be trimmed forward to improve steering.
The voyage encountered several challenges:
- June 14: Stormy weather west of Stewart Island resulted in the loss of the cro'jack sail and a 6-degree port list from shifted cargo
- Crossed the International Date Line 28 days out, operating without navigation lights until reaching the Falklands
- July 11: Rounded Cape Horn at 57°14' South latitude, 44 days into the voyage
- Crossed the equator after 70 days, passing several vessels including the Marco Polo, Queen Mary, and De Grasse
The Pamir anchored in Falmouth Bay on October 2, 1949, 128 days after departure. She subsequently proceeded to Penarth, South Wales, where she rejoined the Passat. This voyage marked the final commercial rounding of Cape Horn by a square-rigged sailing vessel, marking the end of an era in maritime history.