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The STS Sedov (Russian:
Седов), formerly the
Magdalene Vinnen II (–1936) and the Kommodore Johnsen
(–1948), is a 4-masted steel barque that for almost 80 years was the
largest traditional sailing ship in operation. Originally built as a
German cargo ship, the Sedov is today a sail training vessel,
training cadets from the universities of Murmansk, Saint Petersburg
and Arkhangelsk. She participates regularly in the big maritime
international events as a privileged host and has also been a
regular participant in the Tall Ships' Races.
Built in Germany. She came under Russian state ownership after the
surrender of Germany — on December 20, 1945, the British handed over
the ship to the Soviet Union as war reparation. In the Soviet Union,
she was converted into a sail training vessel of the Russian Navy.
Renamed the Sedov after the Arctic explorer Georgy Sedov who
died during an investigation in the Arctic in 1914, she was used as
a training ship of the Navy from 1952 to 1957. She made several
friendly visits to South America and Africa during this period. From
1957 to 1966 she was used as an oceanographic research ship in the
North Atlantic. During these voyages, the Russian Navy also used her
for training of young cadets. In 1966 when she was transferred to
the reserve in Kronstadt, formally under the civil ownership of the
Ministry of Fisheries. In the 1970s, she was only infrequently used
as a training ship, sailing in the Gulf of Finland.
In 1981, the Sedov reappeared
after renovation which had new features added such as a glass-domed
banquet hall with a stage and a movie theatre. She was now based at
the Baltic Division of Training Ships in Riga. She embarked cadets
from schools of navigation of Kalingrad and Murmansk. After the
Proclamation of Independence of Latvia in 1991, she left Riga for
Murmansk, transferred to the Murmansk naval school with the city of
Murmansk ensuring her management and maintenance. |
