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MaSS

stepping stones of maritime history

History

The Detmar stranded on a sandbank near Terschelling due to bad weather on the 26th of February 1894. The ship was heading for Hamburg from Mozambique with a cargo of sesame seeds, ebony and paint wood. The whole crew was saved by fishermen from around the area and most of the ship’s cargo was salvaged. Not long after that, the entire ship was destroyed by salvagers. Bits and pieces of wreck are still lying around near the sandbank.

Description

Type: 3-Masted Schooner

Length: 32 m.

Width: 7 m.

Draught: 10 m.

Tonnage: 273 tons.

Cargo: Sesame seeds, ebony, paint wood.

The Detmar had copper sheathing below the waterline. After the salvaging, the copper was sold for 75,50 guilders. The rudder of the ship was left behind and later salvaged by the diving team Ecuador in 2004. The rudder is still sheathed in copper up to the waterline and has a long and thin shape, which is typical for seaworthy rudders. The rudder pintles, brackets and all the nails are made of copper or brass. The stamp of the factory ‘’Krusauer Kupfer und Messing Fabrik’’ is found on a couple of sheaths. The factory was located until 1864 in Denmark. In 1864 the region became part of Germany.

Status

Due to a ditch that has replaced itself, the ship is now completely covered in a thick layer of sand.

References

  • Akker van den, J., M. Manders, W. van der Wens, A. Zandstra (2007).
    Bundel Maritieme Vindplaatsen 1, p. 25/26.

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