Wednesday 17 July 2013

The Japanese steamer Hakata Maru and its commander in 1904

Recently I found these two 1904 photographs of the Japanase cargo/passenger vessel SS Hakata Maru and its commander, captain Sommer:
The Hakata Maru in 1904. Where to photo was taken, remains unknown to me. 

Captain Sommer (a German?), the commander of Hakata Maru in 1904.

 With the help of a little googling, I was able to find some additional information on the ship on the web:

 The Hakata Maru was launched in 1897 at David and William Henderson & Co., Glasgow, for N.Y.K (Nippon Yusen Kaisha) Line's new European service. The 6161 gross tons, 135.6 m x 15.5 m ship had steam triple expansion engines, twin screw. Service speed was 12 knots. 

 The Hakata Maru, named after Hakata, one of the oldest cities in Japan (now part of Fukuoka) was scrapped in 1933. 

 Recently this painting of the Hakata Maru was sold for $3,675 at a US auction house:

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5 comments:

  1. Anonymous21 August 2019 at 19:55

    Captain Sommer was from Bornholm, Denmark

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  2. Unknown2 June 2020 at 11:29

    Doing some family research during lockdown. My grandfather, Montague Robert Haynes, was 2nd officer on Hakata Maru from 16 Feb 1903 to 15 Jan 1904 then promoted to First Officer from 16 Jan 1904 to 22 Feb 1906.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown2 June 2020 at 11:31

    I also have a war map that details all his voyages during the R-J war

    ReplyDelete
  4. Andre Miura16 July 2020 at 01:11

    My ancestors came to Brazil on this ship in 1929.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unknown9 September 2020 at 09:41

    Was researching an old Thailand postcard 5/8/02 From The Borneo Company. Sent to The East Asiatic Co saying there goods had arrived by S S Hakata Maru.
    The puzzle they referred to the ship SS Chiangmai, ex ssHakata Muru?

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