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Name Official number Flag IMO
PASS OF BALMAHA  95087  GBR   
Year built Date launched Date completed
1888  09/08/1888   
Vessel type Vessel description
Cargo   Steel Sailing Vessel 3 Masted Ship
Builder Yard Yard no
Robert Duncan & Co, Port Glasgow East Yard  237 
 

Tonnage Length Breadth Depth Draft
1571 grt / 1498 nrt / 2500 dwt 245.45 ft  38.8 ft  22.55 ft   
Engine builder ,
Engine detail
[auxiliary engine fitted 1915-16, apparently by Carels, Ghent (also said to be British-made, found by the Germans being exhibited when they entered Brussels)
M4cyl 2str 900bhp] 

First owner First port of register Registration date
David R Clark and others (Gibson & Clark), Glasgow  Glasgow  05/09/1888 
Other names
8/1915 WALTHER - 1916 SEEADLER 
Subsequent owner and registration history
1908 River Plate Shipping Company, Montreal - mng Richard Lee, Boston USA
1909 Ship Pass of Balmaha Co Ltd, Montreal - mng George I Dewar, Toronto - reg Glasgow
c12/1914 Harby Ship Co, New York (Harris-Irby Cotton Co, Oklahoma City?) - reg Boston
1915 German Navy  
Vessel history
4/8/1915 captured by German submarine U-36 in the North Sea (New York for Archangel with cotton). Taken to Cuxhaven and converted by Johannes C Tecklenborg AG at Geestemünde to an armed raider with auxiliary diesel engine.
12/1916 commissioned into the German Navy (commanded by Count Von Luckner)
Between 21/12/1916 and 8/9/1917 (including one French ship by the crew after SEEADLER's loss) captured 16 ships, mostly sailing vessels. 
Remarks
*Note: the circumstances and extent of ownership and/or registration in the USA is obscure and is being further researched

The reported initial renaming after capture in 1915 as WALTHER is not confirmed. 
End year Fate / Status
1917  Wrecked 01/08/1917 
Disposal Detail
Wrecked on Mopelia Island in the Society Islands, French Polynesia, after being struck by a tidal wave. 
 

 

Pass of Balmaha
Image courtesy of :  Green Collection – State of Victoria
 


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