Palau – 2009 – 5 Dollars – Ship Pamir (PROOF)

Description

Metal: Silver .925
Weight: 20 g
Diameter: 38.61 mm
Quality: Proof
Mintage: 2’500 pcs.

On July 29, 1905 the so-called ?Four-Masted Barque? was launched and then started its maiden voyage to South America on October 31, 1905. Originally the Pamir was built as a cargo ship and belonged to the famous Flying P-Liners of the shipping company F. Laeisz. 3022 gross register tons (GRT) were spread across an overall length of 114 meters and a beam of 14 meters. The racy shaped hull allowed her to sail up to 13 knots. As from 1951 the ship was used as a training ship for the German merchant navy and up to this date had rounded the dangerous Cape Horn 36 times.

Five journeys with this training ship were accomplished by the crew without problems but on the return voyage of the 6th passage on September 21, 1957 from Argentina to Hamburg the ship got caught in a hurricane.

The Pamir lost its mainsail in the storm; the cargo, which was not loaded correctly, shifted and caused a dangerous list. Water entered the ship and it capsized. The crew had no time left to lower the lifeboats. Only 6 of the 86 crew members could be rescued by other ships that appened to be close by. This catastrophe caused a huge stir around the whole globe and amongst other things was handled in the famous film ?Windjammer?. The sinking of the Pamir had a big influence on the future training method of cadets.