STS Kruzensthern
How and why was the most famous 90-year-old sailing ship built?
The four-masted bark was built in Bremerhaven (Geestemünde) and launched in 1926 under the name "Padua". This exceptional sailing ship has been known around the world for 70 years as "Kruzenshtern". The steel giant is more than a tangible object, and its life story is quite visible in the 20th century. The magic of this remarkable ship lies in its people – the people who gave the bark its second birth and future prosperous life.
Captain Gennady Kolomensky, who had 45 years of experience at sea on this ship, used to say: "regardless of how different those responsible for the fate and operations of the ship were, the most important thing was working for the image and good of the ship."
Birth of a Windjammer
Germany, 1926: social instability, high unemployment, hunger, poverty, attempted coups and political unrest, and generally oppressive sentiment after a lost war and the humiliating Treaty of Versailles. The Laeisz Company, owning a squadron of steel cargo sailing ships, decided to build another windjammer.
Europe, and especially Germany, was trying to catch up on dynamite production after World War I to replenish war-ravaged arsenals – and the demand for Chilean saltpeter was high. Windjammers were partly involved in these preparations, transporting nitrate to Europe and dynamite to South America in 1920–1930.
By 1913, Germany had "surpassed" the English sailing fleet in quality. The "Cape Horners" from Hamburg and Bremen completed voyages faster than the British. The "windjammer" concept is associated primarily with the sailing ships of Ferdinand Laeisz (1801–1887) – the famous "Flying P-Liners".
On June 23, 1926, the Laeisz firm launched its new sailing ship "Padua" – the last vessel of the classic windjammer family (about 16 sailing ships of the same type). The company owned 135 sailing ships, but by 1925 only 33 remained, by 1935 only 6, and before the war the Laeisz family had only two, the newest ones.
The Ship's Name
The early years of "Padua" were not marked by particular achievements and records – she was the youngest sister in the Laeisz sailing ship family: "Placilla", "Pisagua", "Pamir", "Passat", "Parma", "Peking", "Priwall" and others.
Being the youngest daughter, "Padua" went through many trials that prepared her for an exceptional life. For over nine decades she had to contend with fierce storms, devastation and the threat of destruction, changed flag and name. She was reorganized and rebuilt, and her new name – "Kruzenshtern" – not only survived but ultimately became strong enough to show her amazing character.
An interesting fact is that the hull, plating, frames, keel, and stern were built from Krupp steel intended for the construction of a German destroyer after World War I. This explains the excellent quality of the hull, which ensured the ship's long life.
Construction of the Bark
Steel hull built to Germanischer Lloyd class and regulations. Frame system – transverse; frame spacing – 635 mm; hull plating thickness – 13 mm; 7 watertight bulkheads. Like all Laeisz four-masters, the ship had three superstructures and two decks.
Masts and spars: steel masts with overlapping double rivets. The angles of mast inclination relative to the stern ranged from 3° to 5.5°. Maximum mast diameter 760–840 mm. Today the masts are 56 meters tall.
Sails were made from "Cape Horn" standard canvas (1 kg/m²). The total area of 32 sails was 3,800 m². The steering gear was manual, typical for large windships of the last century.
The anchoring equipment included two Admiralty anchors weighing 3.25 tons with anchor chain (caliber 57 mm and length 250 m). The standard permanent crew numbered 28–32 men.
"Padua" went down in history as the last large sailing ship built without an auxiliary engine.
How Did Windjammers Work?
On her maiden voyage, "Padua" departed Hamburg on August 30, 1926, and reached the Chilean port of Talcahuano in 74 days. From the third to the sixth voyage, "Padua" sailed under Captain Herman Pinning, improving results: the transit from Hamburg to Talcahuano took 72 days.
Working on a cargo sailing ship only seems idyllic and romantic. Violent storms would tear sails apart in seconds, rip enormous masts from the ship's hull, and huge waves would crash onto the deck and superstructures. Injuries and deaths of sailors washed overboard were not surprising.
The 7th and 8th voyages were led by Captain Robert Klauss, who rounded Cape Horn 35 times, 15 of them as captain. Almost all captains of "Padua" lived to be 80.
From February to October 1933, the bark lay idle waiting for reloading – the economic crisis had hit the shipping industry. The 16th voyage – Captain Richard Wendt sailed from Bremen to Corral (Chile) in 61 days, and on August 8, 1939, returned to Glasgow. Three weeks remained until the outbreak of World War II.
World War II
In late August 1939, Padua was loaded and ready to depart for Chile, but after the German occupation of Poland began on September 1 and the declaration of war by Great Britain and France, German ships and ports were blockaded. The voyage was cancelled.
In the spring of 1940, Padua was towed through the Kiel Canal to Szczecin. There the bark served as a permanent training ship. In November 1940, Padua made her last voyage as a merchant vessel – delivering timber from Estonian Tallinn.
In July 1944, the color film "Grosse Freiheit Nr.7" (Great Freedom Street No. 7) was filmed on the bark. According to the decisions of the Potsdam Conference, "Padua" was to become the property of the USSR.
In Świnoujście on January 11, 1946, the bark was handed over to the Soviet command. Untouched by aircraft and submarines, "Padua" survived the most terrible war of the 20th century.
New Name – New Life
Service under the pennant of the USSR Naval Fleet
On February 25, 1946, by order of the fleet, "Padua" was incorporated into the training squadron of the Baltic Naval Fleet based in Liepaja. On April 23, the bark was named after the famous Russian Admiral I.F. Kruzenshtern. Captain 1st Rank A.K. Pavlovsky took command of the bark.
In the post-war chaos, there were no resources (human, material, or technical) to repair the sailing ships. Kruzenshtern, in deplorable condition and without an engine, was destined for recycling. However, in 1946–1948, the sailing ship was converted to a floating dormitory for 400 at the "Neptun" shipyard in Rostock.
A stroke of fortune for the sailing ship was meeting two Russian officers: Ivan Schneider and Pyotr Mitrofanov. Without their involvement, the bark's fate would have been tragic – they saved the ship as a sailing vessel.
In June 1955, tugboats towed Kruzenshtern out to the open sea, and a voyage to Seskar Island in the eastern Gulf of Finland demonstrated full seaworthiness. An expert commission "gave the green light" for further modernization.
Between 1958 and 1961, a unique conversion was carried out in Kronstadt. Kruzenshtern became self-propelled – two main diesel engines of 800 HP each were installed. On June 14, 1961, the 35-year-old bark joined the ships of the Atlantic expedition. Specialized scientific equipment operated on board: a magnetometer, hydrophone, and other instruments.
Under the pennant of the Oceanographic Division, "Kruzenshtern" covered about 240,000 nautical miles, and over 9,000 cadets were trained on board. A submarine mountain discovered in the deep basin of the Canary Islands was named "Mount Kruzenshtern".
The Bark in a New Uniform – Now Civilian
First years as a training ship of the fishing industry fleet
On February 3, 1966, Kruzenshtern was officially transferred to the Ministry of Fisheries in Kronstadt. The ship was registered in Riga. Kruzenshtern made her maiden voyage under the fisheries "flag" in June 1967 – route: Riga – Sochi – Sevastopol – Rijeka – Riga, nearly 11,000 nautical miles.
From 1969, Gennady Vasilyevich Kolomensky began his career on Kruzenshtern as a sailor, dedicating over 45 years of his life to the bark. He knew the ship in absolutely every detail.
Thanks to Ivan Schneider, Kruzenshtern received its trademark – a black hull with white stripes, in accordance with the Russian tradition from tsarist times.
First International Regattas
In autumn 1973, "Kruzenshtern" received an official invitation from ISTA to participate in the 1974 regattas. The debut took place in July 1974 on the route: Riga – Copenhagen – Gdynia – Saint-Malo – Portsmouth – Riga. The bark won the most prestigious award – the silver "Cutty Sark Trophy" – "for achievements in friendship between nations."
In 1976, at the regattas dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the USA, "Kruzenshtern" took 2nd place in the Canary Islands leg and 2nd place in the Bermuda leg.
From 1983, the sailing ship was transferred to the "Estrybprom" association in Tallinn. The "Estonian era of Kolomensky" began. In 1984, at the STI regattas from Nova Scotia to Liverpool, Kruzenshtern took first place. Queen Elizabeth II greeted the bark during the tall ships parade from the yacht "Britannia".
In 1986, he won another cup – first place in the "OP Sail-86" regattas. From 1989, newly built Soviet sailing ships "Mir", "Khersones", and "Druzhba" became serious competitors.
Port of Registration – Kaliningrad
In 1991, "Kruzenshtern" was transferred to the Kaliningrad Higher School of Marine Engineering. The transfer was caused by the collapse of the USSR and separatism in the Baltic republics. "Kruzenshtern" was never the property of Estonia.
In the "Columbus'92" regattas dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America, Kolomensky led "Kruzenshtern" at an average speed of 7 knots in 8–9 Beaufort scale winds, reaching a record speed of 17.2 knots (and even up to 21 knots!). Result: "Kruzenshtern" – first, "Mir" – second, "Sedov" – third!
In 1993, repairs were carried out in Wismar for 10 million German marks: replacement of main engines, boilers, generators, modernization of air conditioning, kitchen, and life-saving equipment.
First Circumnavigation 1995–1996
The first circumnavigation was dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Russian Fleet, the 225th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Kruzenshtern, and the 190th anniversary of the completion of the first Russian circumnavigation.
Route: from Europe to the western coast of South America, across the Pacific to Vladivostok, through Western Australia, South Africa to Europe. "Kruzenshtern" left Kaliningrad on October 28, 1995. The ship and crew were blessed by the Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, now Patriarch Kirill of All Russia.
The voyage lasted 308 days. "Kruzenshtern" covered over 42,500 nautical miles, visited 15 ports in thirteen countries, crossed four oceans, survived two powerful storms (including a force 12 storm on the Pacific Ocean). Four times the sailing ship crossed the equator, passing Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope.
The circumnavigation was officially completed in Saint Petersburg on August 25, 1996. "Kruzenshtern" began to be called "legendary".
Second Circumnavigation 2005–2006
Dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Victory Day and the 200th anniversary of the completion of the first Russian circumnavigation. "Kruzenshtern" sailed on June 17, 2005, from Kaliningrad.
Ports of call: Torbay – Santander – Lisbon – Santa Cruz de Tenerife – Montevideo – Ushuaia – Cape Horn – Valparaiso – Callao – Acapulco – Honolulu – Vladivostok – Hong Kong – Singapore – Mauritius – Cape Town – Canary Islands – Bremerhaven – Saint Petersburg.
Cape Horn was successfully passed on December 11, 2005. The entire voyage lasted 425 days – 45,774 nautical miles and 21 foreign ports.
Transatlantic Expedition 2009–2010
International expedition dedicated to the 65th anniversary of Victory, the 90th anniversary of the fishing industry in Russia, and the 60th anniversary of the first herring expedition. 22 vessels from 15 countries participated in the "Tall Ship Atlantic Challenge-2009" regattas.
A dramatic event: during the Bermuda race, a squall damaged part of the foremast rigging – a spar fell. The deck crew cut the sails and repaired the rigging. The ship withdrew from the regattas and headed for Charleston (USA).
For the first time in history, "Kruzenshtern" transited the Panama Canal and headed into the Pacific. It took 23 days to reach Vancouver. For three weeks, the crew participated in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
She visited Venezuela, where Prime Minister Putin and President Chávez appeared on board. Then Cuba, crossing the Atlantic. On May 9, 2010, on the 65th anniversary of Victory, "Kruzenshtern" moored in her home port. 39,000 nautical miles in 299 days.
Winter Olympics in Sochi 2014
On December 25, 2013, "Kruzenshtern" set out on a long voyage of over 5,000 miles to Sochi. After passing through the Bosphorus on February 6, 2014, the bark arrived in Sochi, receiving groups of visitors and Olympic guests.
New captain – Mikhail Petrovich Eremchenko took command. The first Russian civilian ship to visit Sevastopol after the change of citizenship was the sailing ship "Kruzenshtern" – about 45,000 citizens of Sevastopol visited the ship in less than two days.
International Memorial Expedition 2015
Dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The bark visited Black Sea ports of hero cities, retraced the route of Arctic convoys. For the first time, she called at Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, and the Israeli port of Haifa. The voyage lasted over 8 months.
2016 – Bark «Kruzenshtern» Turns 90
70 years bearing the name of the famous navigator and 25 years as part of the maritime academy, which turned 50! The year 2016 united several great dates for "Kruzenshtern". The main one was the 90th anniversary of the sailing ship's creation.
The bark under the auspices of Sail Training International and in European maritime festivals continued its training mission. "Kruzenshtern" calls at foreign ports, participating in numerous regattas, festivals, and international projects – the ship has risen above the waves of political passions.
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