Peking (ship) facts for kids
Peking
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| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire |
|
| Name | Peking |
| Owner | F. Laeisz |
| Route | Europe–Chile |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Steinwerder, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 205 |
| Launched | 25 February 1911 |
| Completed | May 1911 |
| Out of service | 1920 |
| Notes | Interned at Valparaiso 1914-1920, then to Italy as war reparations |
 Kingdom of Italy |
|
| In service | 1920 |
| Out of service | 1923 |
 Weimar Republic |
|
| Name | Peking |
| Operator | F. Laeisz |
| Route | Europe–Chile |
| Acquired | 1923 |
| Out of service | 1932 |
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | Arethusa |
| Owner | Shaftesbury Homes |
| In service | 1932-1940, 1945-1975 |
| Out of service | 1975 |
| Homeport | Upnor, Medway |
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | HMS Pekin |
| Operator | Royal Navy |
| In service | 1940-1945 |
 United States |
|
| Name | Peking |
| Owner | South Street Seaport Museum |
| Acquired | 1975 |
| Out of service | 2017 |
| Homeport | New York City |
| Status | Museum ship |
 Germany |
|
| Name | Peking |
| Owner | German Port Museum |
| Acquired | 2017 |
| In service | 2020 |
| Homeport | Hamburg |
| Status | Museum ship |
| Notes | Display |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Flying P-Liner |
| Displacement | 3,100 long tons (3,150 t) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 45 ft 7 in (13.89 m) |
| Height | 170 ft 6 in (51.97 m) |
| Draft | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Sail plan | 44,132 sq ft (4,100.0 m2) sail area |
The Peking is a very special ship. It is a huge sailing ship called a barque, made of steel. It has four masts, which are the tall poles that hold the sails. Peking was part of a famous group of ships known as the Flying P-Liners, owned by a German company called F. Laeisz. These ships were among the last big sailing vessels built to carry cargo. They were used to transport goods like nitrate (a chemical used in fertilizer) and wheat. They sailed on long, difficult journeys around Cape Horn, which is the southern tip of South America.
Contents
The Amazing Ship Peking
Built for the Seas: Early Life
The Peking was built in Hamburg, Germany. It was launched in February 1911, which means it was put into the water for the first time. Its first big trip, called a maiden voyage, was in May 1911. It sailed all the way to Valparaiso in Chile.
Sailing the Nitrate Route
For many years, Peking was used to carry nitrate from Chile to Europe. This was known as the "nitrate trade." When World War I started, Peking was in Valparaiso and had to stay there until the war ended in 1920. After the war, the ship was given to Italy as part of war reparations. But in 1923, its original owners, the Laeisz brothers, bought it back. The Peking continued in the nitrate trade until ships started using the Panama Canal. The canal made journeys much faster and cheaper, so sailing ships like Peking became less common for cargo.
A New Purpose: Training Young Sailors
In 1932, the Peking was sold to an organization called Shaftesbury Homes. This group helped young people. The ship was renamed Arethusa II and was used as a home and training school for children. It was first moved to Greenhithe, then to a permanent spot on the River Medway in Upnor. Prince George officially opened it on July 25, 1933.
Serving in Wartime
During World War II, the Arethusa II had another important job. It was used by the Royal Navy, the United Kingdom's navy, and was known as HMS Pekin.
A Museum Star in New York
After many years of service, Arethusa II was retired in 1974. It was then sold to Jack Aron and renamed Peking again. The ship traveled to New York City to become a museum ship at the South Street Seaport Museum. It stayed there for about 40 years. However, the museum later decided it couldn't keep Peking long-term. There were talks about sending the ship to be scrapped.
Journey Home: Back to Germany
In 2015, a group called the 'Maritim Foundation' bought the Peking for a very low price. Their plan was to bring the ship back to Hamburg, where it was originally built. The idea was for Peking to become a main attraction at the new German Port Museum. The German government even promised a lot of money to help restore and preserve the ship.
Making Peking Shine Again
On July 17, 2017, the Peking began its journey home. It was loaded onto a special ship called Combi Dock III and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. It arrived in Germany on July 30, 2017. On August 2, 2017, Peking was taken to a shipyard called Peters Werft for a big restoration project. This work took three years and cost a lot of money.
The restoration included many repairs. Workers checked the rigging (all the ropes and chains that support the masts and sails). They replaced parts of the hull (the main body of the ship) and removed old cement that had filled the bottom of the ship. They also took down and put back all the masts, painted the ship, and did a lot of wood work. The ship spent a long time in a dry-dock, which is like a special basin that can be drained of water so workers can reach the bottom of the ship. On September 7, 2020, the beautifully restored Peking was moved to the German Port Museum.
You can also watch a video about sailing around Cape Horn in 1929: "Around Cape Horn (1929)"
