Amsterdam Today
Amsterdam Sail - Штандартъ
Frigate 'Shtandart'
300 years ago, upon the order from tzar Peter and governor Menshikov, began the construction of the first Russian ships for the new Russian Navy in which Shtandart became the flagship.
The name Shtandart signifies the new trade route that Russia had gained via the Baltic Sea. In 1703 Peter changed his standard by adding the fourth map of the Baltic to the previously existing maps of the three Russian seas. A new royal standard was created and in its honour the first Russian ship of the Baltic Navy was named Shtandart.
Russia’s military success against Turkey allowed Peter to claim a lucrative trade route to Europe – via the Baltic Sea. But to protect the Baltic land he needed a strong Navy. During his Grand Embassy Peter studied the art of shipbuilding. In Amsterdam “Peter and Paul” frigate was built and launched specially for Peter so he could watch the full building cycle. Peter received a certificate that stated that Peter Mikhailov “studied the art of shipbuilding to the extent that we are knowledgeable in it”.
But Peter was not satisfied with that knowledge. The reason being that the Dutch school of shipbuilding relied heavily on practical experience rather than the precise theoretical knowledge and calculations. The knowledge and secrets of the craft were passed down from father to son. To use this method of building in Russia would be impossible, as Russia did not have generations of carpenters, riggers and cutters. So Peter needed to learn a more structured science and after Holland he proceeded to go to England, the country famous for its precise, formalised and structured approach to everything including designing and building ships.
Shtandart gives us an interesting example of the combination of two very different building styles.
The Dutch needed their ships to be comfortable in shallow waters, as many of them were built in areas with shallow canals. Compared to the English ships of the same ammunition the Dutch had a much smaller draft. In the deep open sea where anchors can’t reach the bottom, it was crucial to have the ability to beat along the wind. This is what English ships have always been famous for.
Designing Shtandart, Peter used the best practices from both schools: the smaller draft necessary for navigation in the Gulf of Finland and the high elegant rigging of the English.
Peter himself was involved in the building of Shtandart. He’d been present at the Olonetsk shipyard since July 21 1703. It was probably due to his energy and determination that the construction was finished within only five months. His people worked until dark every day, and we know northern summer days last a long time…
In a very short time, only two weeks in fact, the masts and sails were ready. On September 8, 1703 Shtandart set sail for St-Petersburg under the command of captain “Peter Mikhailov”. The flotilla of ships arrived at St-Petersburg in the middle of October.
A few years later the result of the hurried constructions began to show their effects. The timber was not dried properly, the ship came to a state of disrepair and was scheduled for retimbering.
The repaired Shtandart continued service until 1719, when Peter decreed the frigate to be preserved forever as the first ship of the Russian Navy and a monument of the art of shipbuilding.
Sadly, without care and attention, Shtandart and several other ships stored at Kronwerk Canal deteriorated very rapidly.
In 1727 a special commission ordered by Katherine I checked the condition of the ships and decided to bring Shtandart ashore to be restored. But water and time had already done so much damage that during the lifting attempts the cable actually cut the hull in sections. The old Shtandart was taken apart with a new decree from the Empress: “In honour of the name given by His Majesty Peter I will build the new one”.
This decree remained unfulfilled until the late 20th century when the modern exact replica Shtandart was build in St-Petersburg by a team of enthusiasts and volunteers led by naval architect and sailor Vladimir Martus.
Source: www.shtandart.com
Amsterdam Sail - Штандартъ
Frigate 'Shtandart'
300 years ago, upon the order from tzar Peter and governor Menshikov, began the construction of the first Russian ships for the new Russian Navy in which Shtandart became the flagship.
The name Shtandart signifies the new trade route that Russia had gained via the Baltic Sea. In 1703 Peter changed his standard by adding the fourth map of the Baltic to the previously existing maps of the three Russian seas. A new royal standard was created and in its honour the first Russian ship of the Baltic Navy was named Shtandart.
Russia’s military success against Turkey allowed Peter to claim a lucrative trade route to Europe – via the Baltic Sea. But to protect the Baltic land he needed a strong Navy. During his Grand Embassy Peter studied the art of shipbuilding. In Amsterdam “Peter and Paul” frigate was built and launched specially for Peter so he could watch the full building cycle. Peter received a certificate that stated that Peter Mikhailov “studied the art of shipbuilding to the extent that we are knowledgeable in it”.
But Peter was not satisfied with that knowledge. The reason being that the Dutch school of shipbuilding relied heavily on practical experience rather than the precise theoretical knowledge and calculations. The knowledge and secrets of the craft were passed down from father to son. To use this method of building in Russia would be impossible, as Russia did not have generations of carpenters, riggers and cutters. So Peter needed to learn a more structured science and after Holland he proceeded to go to England, the country famous for its precise, formalised and structured approach to everything including designing and building ships.
Shtandart gives us an interesting example of the combination of two very different building styles.
The Dutch needed their ships to be comfortable in shallow waters, as many of them were built in areas with shallow canals. Compared to the English ships of the same ammunition the Dutch had a much smaller draft. In the deep open sea where anchors can’t reach the bottom, it was crucial to have the ability to beat along the wind. This is what English ships have always been famous for.
Designing Shtandart, Peter used the best practices from both schools: the smaller draft necessary for navigation in the Gulf of Finland and the high elegant rigging of the English.
Peter himself was involved in the building of Shtandart. He’d been present at the Olonetsk shipyard since July 21 1703. It was probably due to his energy and determination that the construction was finished within only five months. His people worked until dark every day, and we know northern summer days last a long time…
In a very short time, only two weeks in fact, the masts and sails were ready. On September 8, 1703 Shtandart set sail for St-Petersburg under the command of captain “Peter Mikhailov”. The flotilla of ships arrived at St-Petersburg in the middle of October.
A few years later the result of the hurried constructions began to show their effects. The timber was not dried properly, the ship came to a state of disrepair and was scheduled for retimbering.
The repaired Shtandart continued service until 1719, when Peter decreed the frigate to be preserved forever as the first ship of the Russian Navy and a monument of the art of shipbuilding.
Sadly, without care and attention, Shtandart and several other ships stored at Kronwerk Canal deteriorated very rapidly.
In 1727 a special commission ordered by Katherine I checked the condition of the ships and decided to bring Shtandart ashore to be restored. But water and time had already done so much damage that during the lifting attempts the cable actually cut the hull in sections. The old Shtandart was taken apart with a new decree from the Empress: “In honour of the name given by His Majesty Peter I will build the new one”.
This decree remained unfulfilled until the late 20th century when the modern exact replica Shtandart was build in St-Petersburg by a team of enthusiasts and volunteers led by naval architect and sailor Vladimir Martus.
Source: www.shtandart.com