Danmark (ship)
Encyclopedia
The Danmark is a full rigged ship
owned by the Danish Maritime Authority and based at the Maritime Training and Education Centre in Frederikshavn
, Denmark.
of 32 feet (9.8 m) and a depth of 17 feet (5.2 m), with a gross tonnage
of 790 tons. She was designed for a crew complement of 120 but in a 1959 refit this was reduced to 80. Although she is equipped with a 486-hp diesel engine capable of 9 knots (17.6 km/h) in other respects she retains many primitive features: for example, the steering gear lacks any mechanical assistance, and the stock anchors are raised by a capstan
rather than a powered windlass
. The permanent crew has berths, but the trainees sleep in hammocks.
which was lost at sea at the end of 1928, as Demark's principal training ship. Launched in 1932 at the Nakskov Shipyard in Lolland
and fitted out the following year, she was built to train officers of the Danish merchant marine. In 1939 she visited the United States to participate in the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York City
, but at the outbreak of hostilities in World War II
she was ordered to remain in US waters to avoid capture by the Germans. She was then based in Jacksonville, Florida
and maintained with the help of the Danish American community there. After the attack on Pearl Harbor
the captain, Knud Hansen, offered the ship to the U.S. government as a training vessel. This offer was accepted, and the Danmark moved to New London, Connecticut
to train cadets at the United States Coast Guard Academy
there. Approximately five thousand cadets were trained before the ship was returned to Denmark in 1945. She resumed her training duties the following year. In recognition of her wartime service, a bronze plaque was placed on the mainmast, and the Danmark was given the honor of leading the parade of ships
at the 1964 Worlds Fair
in New York. Experience with the Danmark led to the acquisition of the USCGC Eagle
from Germany at the end of the war as a training vessel.
Training voyages continue to be offered, not only to Danes but also to those of any nation interested in learning the basics of seamanship on a large sailing vessel.
The ship was one out of seven ships that was used for filming in the brittish BBC TV-series Onedin Line (1971-1980).
Full rigged ship
A full rigged ship or fully rigged ship is a sailing vessel with three or more masts, all of them square rigged. A full rigged ship is said to have a ship rig....
owned by the Danish Maritime Authority and based at the Maritime Training and Education Centre in Frederikshavn
Frederikshavn
This article is about a Danish town. For the German town, see Friedrichshafen, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Frederikshavn is a Danish town in Frederikshavn municipality, Region Nordjylland on the northeast coast of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. Its name translates to...
, Denmark.
Description
Danmark is 252 feet (76.8 m) in overall length with a beamBeam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
of 32 feet (9.8 m) and a depth of 17 feet (5.2 m), with a gross tonnage
Tonnage
Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume...
of 790 tons. She was designed for a crew complement of 120 but in a 1959 refit this was reduced to 80. Although she is equipped with a 486-hp diesel engine capable of 9 knots (17.6 km/h) in other respects she retains many primitive features: for example, the steering gear lacks any mechanical assistance, and the stock anchors are raised by a capstan
Capstan (nautical)
A capstan is a vertical-axled rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to apply force to ropes, cables, and hawsers. The principle is similar to that of the windlass, which has a horizontal axle.- History :...
rather than a powered windlass
Windlass
The windlass is an apparatus for moving heavy weights. Typically, a windlass consists of a horizontal cylinder , which is rotated by the turn of a crank or belt...
. The permanent crew has berths, but the trainees sleep in hammocks.
History
The Danmark succeeded the København, a five-masted barqueBarque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
which was lost at sea at the end of 1928, as Demark's principal training ship. Launched in 1932 at the Nakskov Shipyard in Lolland
Lolland
Lolland is the fourth largest island of Denmark, with an area of 1,243 square kilometers . Located in the Baltic sea, it is part of Region Sjælland...
and fitted out the following year, she was built to train officers of the Danish merchant marine. In 1939 she visited the United States to participate in the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but at the outbreak of hostilities in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she was ordered to remain in US waters to avoid capture by the Germans. She was then based in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and maintained with the help of the Danish American community there. After the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
the captain, Knud Hansen, offered the ship to the U.S. government as a training vessel. This offer was accepted, and the Danmark moved to New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
to train cadets at the United States Coast Guard Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
Founded in 1876, the United States Coast Guard Academy is the military academy of the United States Coast Guard. Located in New London, Connecticut, it is the smallest of the five federal service academies...
there. Approximately five thousand cadets were trained before the ship was returned to Denmark in 1945. She resumed her training duties the following year. In recognition of her wartime service, a bronze plaque was placed on the mainmast, and the Danmark was given the honor of leading the parade of ships
Operation Sail
Operation Sail refers to a series of sailing events held to celebrate special occasions and features sailing vessels from around the world. Each event is coordinated by Operation Sail, Inc., a non-profit organization established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy and must be approved by the...
at the 1964 Worlds Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
in New York. Experience with the Danmark led to the acquisition of the USCGC Eagle
USCGC Eagle (WIX-327)
The is a barque used as a training cutter for future officers of the United States Coast Guard. She is one of only two active commissioned sailing vessels in American military service, the other being the USS Constitution....
from Germany at the end of the war as a training vessel.
Training voyages continue to be offered, not only to Danes but also to those of any nation interested in learning the basics of seamanship on a large sailing vessel.
The ship was one out of seven ships that was used for filming in the brittish BBC TV-series Onedin Line (1971-1980).
External links
- Training Ship Danmark from MARTEC site (in English)
- Skoleskib DANMARK by Troels Staarup (in Danish)