Information on:

"The Hansa"
"The J. Z." (John Zerega)
Passenger Ships

The J. Z. ( The John Zerega )

(If you know where I can find a Picture of the J. Z., please contact me at sallia@aol.com)

According to contemporary New York newspapers, the ship J. Z., [John] Zerega, master, arrived at New York on 6 August 1852, from Antwerp5 June 1852, with merchandise and passengers, to A. Zerega. The J. Z.was a 3-masted, square-rigged ship, 676 tons, built at New York in 1848, and registered at New York on 4 February 1850. She belonged to the New York firm of A[ugustus] Zerega & Co., which operated an immigrant "line" (the Z Line) between Antwerpand NewYork from 1847to 1851, and another immigrant line (the Red Z line) between Liverpooland NewYorkfrom 1848until at least the late 1850's. The firm owned a number of vessels with names formed from initials - -the A. Z., E. Z., L. Z.,, as well as the J. Z.-- of family members. In 1848, G. S.Porter, master, the J. Z.was advertised as running in the Black Star Line between New York and Liverpool, and in 1851, Augustus Zerega, master, in the Hurlbut Line between New Yorkand Antwerp. The J. Z.had a short career: On 3 July 1853,Spencer, master, she sailed from New Yorkfor Liverpool, with a cargo chiefly consisting of turpentine, corn, and cotton. On 7 July, the cargo caught fire, and destroyed the vessel, the captain and crew of 20 being removed by the Norwegian schooner Stavanger, and transported to Liverpool aboard the ship Ebenezer, which arrived at the latter port on 25 July 1853. Sources: Forrest R. Holdcamper, comp., List of American-flag Merchant Vessels that received Certificates of Enrollment or Registry at the Port of New York, 1789-1867 (Record Groups 41 and 36), National Archives Publication 68-10, Special Lists 22 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, 1968), p. 358; Carl C. Cutler, (Annapolis: United States Naval Institute, c1961), pp. 386, 388, 397; New York Times, 8 August 1853, p. 3a].

"The Hansa"

The ship "Hansa"was built by Wm. H. Webb, New Yorkin 1847as the "United States"for
the American, Black Ball Line of transatlantic sailing packets. She was an 1,857 gross ton steamship, length 244.6ft x beam 48ft, clipper stem, one funnel, three masts, wooden construction, paddle wheel propulsion and a speed of 10 knots. There was accommodation for 100-1st and 50-2nd class passengers. Launched on 20/8/1847, she sailed from New Yorkon her maiden voyage to Liverpoolon 8/4/1848(One round voyage). On 10/6/1848 she commenced her first voyage from New Yorkto Southhampton and Havre. Her second voyage on this route started on 5/8/1848, and on 6/12/1848 she sailed on her last voyage from New Yorkto Southhampton, Havre(dep 9/1/1849), Southhampton, Halifax Havre(arr 5/2/1849). In 1849 she was sold and converted to a warship. On 31/5/1849she sailed from New Yorkfor Liverpoolwhere she was renamed "Hansa"and became a member of the German Confederation Navy. In 1853 she was bought by Fritze Lehmkuhl of Bremen who refitted her as a merchant ship. She sailed on her first voyage for these owners from Bremen to New York on 30/8/1853 and on 17/10/1854 commenced her last sailing on this route (4 Round voyages). On 24/3/1855she left London for the Black Sea where she became a troop transport for the Crimean War, and on 18/9/1855 returned to the UK. On 9/4/1857 she commenced a single round voyage from Bremen to New York and in 1858 was sold to the Galway Line of Ireland, renamed "Indian Empire"and rebuilt to 2,516 tons. She made two transatlantic crossings for these owners (commencing 19/6/1858 and 28/9/1858) from Galway to New York. On 24/7/1861 she was damaged by fire at Deptford, London and was laid up in Victoria Dock, London, where she sank on 4/5/1866. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.194]

"The Hansa (2)"

The Hansawas a bark--a 3-masted sailing vessel, square-rigged on the fore- and mainmasts, and rigged fore-and-aft on the mizzenmast--built by H[ermann] F[riedrich] Ulrichs, of Vegesack/Fahr, for the Bremen firm of B. Grovermann Co, and launched on 14 September 1852. Her masters were, in turn, August Brinkamaand Georg Jaburg, both of Vegesack, and Peter Heyn, Ad. Buttner, and H.C.L. Riefe, all of Bremen. In 1856, the Hansa, bound from Hartlepool for Cuba, rescued the crew of the British ship Rosalia, Tegau, master, out of Londonberry, which had been abandoned at sea, in a sinking condition, on 29 September. In December 1858, the Hansasailed from Liverpool, but on the second day out Capt. Brinkamafell overboard and was killed. The HANSA arrived back at Liverpool on 12 December 1858, and sailed the very next day with a new master. In 1863, the HANSA, Heyn, master, rescued the crew of an English fishing boat. In 1871, the HANSA as Onda as sold to J. Hoppe, of Copenhagen, and renamed Onda. 0n 5 July 1874, C. Nielson, master, bound from Copenhagen to Ivigtut, Greenland, the ex HANSA was abandoned at sea in a sinking condition [Peter-Michael Pawlik, Von der Weser in die Welt; Die Geschichte der Segelschiffe von Weser und Lesum und ihrer Bauwerften 1770 bis 1893, Schriften des Deutschen Schiffahrtsmuseums, Bd. 33 (Hamburg: Kabel, c1993), pp. 276-277]. The HANSA's measurements: 153 Commerzlasten/343 tons register; 36,2 x 8,2 x 4,1 meters (length x beam x depth of hold).

"The Hansa 3"

"Hansa"of 1863was a 2992 ton vessel built in 1861 by Caird Co of Greenock for Norddeutscher Lloyd [North German Lloyd]. She was an iron built vessel with a clipper stem, one funnel, three masts, single screw and a speed of 11 knots. She could accommodate 75-1st class, 105-2nd class and 480-3rd class passengers. Her dimensions were length 328.2ft x beam 42ft. She was launched on 23.8.1861and left on her maiden voyage from Bremento Southhampton to New Yorkon 24.11.1861. Made her last voyage for this company on 12.11.1878and was sold to the British company Adamson Ronaldson who re-engined her in 1881 and used her in their London - Boston service. In 1883 she was sold to the White Cross Line of Belgium who renamed her "Ludwig". She sailed from Antwerpfor Montrealon 2.7.1883and went missing with the loss of 70-80 lives.

"The Steamship Hansa"

The steamship Hansa--the first of threeof this name built for Norddeutscher Lloyd--was built by Caird Co, Greenock (ship #92, contract price 65,000 pounds sterling), and launched on 23 August 1861. 2,992 tons; 96,92 x 12,19 meters (length x breadth); clipper bow, 1 funnel, 3 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion (low-pressure tandem engine with surface condensers; 750-1500 hp), service speed 11.5 knots; accommodation for 76 passengers in 1st class, 107 in 2nd class, and 480 in steerage; crew of 102. 24 November 1861, maiden voyage, Bremen, Southhampton-New York. 1864, given Krupp steel shaft and air preheating. 13 June 1868, boarded 630 Mormons in Copenhagenfor Hull (and New York). 28 November 1871, sailed Southampton for New York; engine failure; arrived St. John 18 December under sail; after minimal repairs continued 23 December for New York. 12 November 1878, last voyage, Bremen-New York. Fall 1879, sold to Oswald, Mordaunt Co, Southampton, in partial payment for the HANSA (II); resold to shipbroker E. Bates, Liverpool. 1880, registered to T. R. Oswald R. Gebbs, Liverpool. 1881, registered to T. R. Gebbs, Liverpool. 1881, compound engines by J. Howden Co, Glasgow. May 1881-March 1882, 6 roundtrip voyages, London-Boston, chartered to Adamson Ronaldson. 1883, purchased by the White Cross Line, Antwerp, and renamed LUDWIG; 3,087 tons. 2 July 1883, sailed from Antwerp to Montealwith 27 passengers, 43 crew, and 433 head of cattle; went missing after making contact on 3 July with Prawle Point, 20 miles southeast of Plymouth [Edwin Drechsel, Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen, 1857-1970; History, Fleet, Ship Mails, vol. 1 (Vancouver: Cordillera Pub. Co., c1994), pp. 16-17 (picture); Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 2 (1978), pp. 512 (photograph), 544-545, and 825].

"The Hansa 4"

S.S. Hansafrom Hamburgto Hull8/27/1886- This is not the steamship HANSA built for the North German Lloyd in 1861 (and which, as the Ludwigof the White Cross Line, sailed from Antwerp for Montreal on 2 July 1883, and went missing with a loss of between 70 and 80 lives). Built under special survey in Stockton, England, by Richardson, Duck Co (engines by T. Richardson Sons, Hartlepool), in 1865, as the Epitanisos. 514/747/676 tons (net/gross/under deck); 198.8 x 29.1 x 16.7 feet (length x beam x depth of hold); iron construction, screw propulsion. 12 April 1867, purchased by H. J. Perlbach, Hamburg. 1867-1869, primarily Hamburg-Antwerpand Hamburg-Havre. 1870, almost exclusively Hamburg-Hull. 7 April 1892, sunk after collision off the Dutch coast [Lloyd's Register, 1881; Walter Kresse, ed., Seeschiffs-Verzeichnis der Hamburger Reedereien, 1824-1888, Mitteilungen aus dem Museum fur Hamburgische Geschichte, N.F., Bd. 5. (Hamburg: Museum fur Hamburgische Geschichte, 1969), vol. 2, p. 103].

The HANSA was built under special survey by Lloyd's Register of Shipping by Richardson, Duck Co, of Stockton-on-Tees, and launched in February 1865, as the Epitanisos, for the Anglo-Greek Steam Navigation Trading Co. 747/588 tons (gross/net); 198.8 x 29.1 x 16.7 feet (length x breadth x depth of hold); iron construction, screw propulsion. The annual volumes of Lloyd's Register of Shipping for 1865/66 and 1866/67 (the volumes cover the period from 1 July of one year through 30 June of the next) give the following information on the Epitanisos: Owner: 1865/66-1866/67 - Anglo-Greek Steam Navigation Trading Co.; 1866/67 - Richardson, of Hartlepool [most probably either John Richardson, whose papers for the years 1871-92are now deposited in the Durham County Record Office, County Hall, Durham DH1 5UL, or the shipbuilding firm of T. Richardson Sons]. Port of Registry: 1865/66-1866/67 - London; 1866/67 - Hartlepool. Port of Survey: 1865/66-1866/67 - Hartlepool. Intended Voyage: 1865/66-1866/67 - Mediterranean. She was purchased from Richardson by the Hamburg firm of H. J. Perlbach Co on 12 April 1867. Captains: 1867-1868 - J. H. Boeck; 1868-1879 - A. F. Brandt; 1875 - A. Krulle; 1879-1883 - G. H. M. Blanck; 1882 - H. Wolters; 1884-1891 - P. Kroger. Voyages: 1867 - Havre (3 times); Antwerp (15 times); 1868 - Antwerp (7 times); Antwerp/Havre; Havre (6 times); Havre/Dunkirk (twice); Havre/Cardiff (twice); Kopenhagen/Hull; 1869 - Antwerp (4 times); Dunkirk/Havre; Havre (twice); Havre/Bordeaux; Dunkirk/Bordeaux Rouen/Bordeaux; London/Cardiff; Hull (9 times); 1870 - Antwerp; Antwerp/Hull; Hull (11 times); 1871 - Dunkirk; Havre; Antwerp/Hull (twice); Hull (13 times); 1872 - Hull (23 times); 1873 - Hull (19 times); 1874 - Hull (19 times); Antwerp; 1875 - Hull (22 times); Whitehaven/London; 1876 - Hull (26 times); 1877 - Hull (23 times); 1878 - Hull (26 times); 1879 - Hull (23 times); 1880 - Antwerp; Hull (25 times); 1881 - Hull (17 times); 1882 - Hull (24 times); 1883 - Hull (25 times); 1884 - Hull (26 times); 1885 - Hull (25 times); 1886 - Hull (23 times); 1887 - Hull (26 times); 1888 - Hull (25 times). The Hansawas sunk on 7 April 1892, after a collision, off the Dutch coast [Walter Kresse, ed., Seeschiffs-Verzeichnis der Hamburger Reedereien, 1824-1888, Mitteilungen aus dem Museum fur Hamburgische Geschichte, N. F., Bd. 5. (3 vols.; Hamburg: Museum fur Hamburgische Geschichte, 1969), vol. 2, p. 103].

"The Hansa 5" ( "The Deutschland" )

The "The Deutschland" of 1900was the third vessel of that name belonging to Hamburg America Line. She was built A. J. Vulkinof Stettin and launched on 10.1.1900. and was a 16,502 ton vessel, length 660.9ft x beam 67.3ft, four funnels (set in pairs), two masts, twin screw and a speed of 22 knots. She could carry 450-1st, 300-2nd and 350-3rd class passengers. She left Hamburgfor Plymouthand New Yorkon her maiden voyage on 4.7.1900and took the blue riband for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic in both directions, although she suffered from excessive vibration at high speeds. In 1902, this caused her rudder and stern post to snap off and repairs took five months. She made her last voyage on this run on 24.9.1910. In 1911 she was rebuilt as a 17 knot cruise vessel with accommodation for 487-1st class passengers and renamed "Victoria Luise". She sailed between Hamburg-Southhampton-Cherbourg-New Yorkuntil the outbreak of war in 1914when she intended to be converted to an auxiliary cruiser at Hamburg. She was not converted or surrendered to the Allies in 1919 due to her generally poor condition and in 1920 was damaged by fire during her reconditioning. She was rebuilt with two funnels and accommodation for 36 cabin class and 1,350-3rd class passengers and renamed "Hansa"Sailed between Hamburg N.Y.with a further rebuild in 1922to carry 224 cabin and 1,065-3rd class passengers. Last voyage 25.9.1924 and scrapped in 1925at Hamburg.

"Hansa 6 " ( "The Albert Ballan" )

The "Albert Ballan was built by Blohm Voss, Hamburg in 1922 for the Hamburg America Line. She was a 20,815 gross ton ship, length 602.4ft x beam 78.7ft, two funnels, four masts, twin screw and a speed of 16 knots. Accommodation was provided for 250-1st, 340-2nd and 1,060-3rd class passengers. Launched on 16/12/1922, she sailed from Hamburgon her maiden voyage to Southhampton New Yorkon 5/7/1923. In Feb.1928she was refitted to carry 1st, 2nd, tourist and 3rd class passengers and on 11/9/1929commenced her last Hamburg to Boulogne, Southhampton and N. Y.voyage before being re-engined to give a speed of 19 knots. On 21/3/1930she resumed the Hamburg - Southampton - Cherbourg - New York service, carrying 1st, tourist and 3rd class. On 21/12/1933she commenced her last voyage on this route and on 12/5/1934 she rammed and sank the North Germen Lloyd vessel "Merkur" with the loss of 7 lives. Later the same year she was rebuilt to 21,131 tons, length 645.8ft,speed 20 knots and renamed "Hansa" under the direction of the Nazi government.(Albert Ballin was Jewish.) On 31/10/1935she resumed the Hamburg - Southampton - Cherbourg - New York run and in March 1936was refitted to carry cabin, tourist and 3rd class. She commenced her last New York voyage on 27/7/1939and then became a naval accommodation ship at Gotenhafen. On 6/3/1945 she was sunk by a mine off Warnemunde, initially taken in tow, but failed to reach port. In 1949 she was raised by the Russians, rebuilt at Warnemunde and Antwerp to 23,009 tons and one funnel and in 1953(?) renamed "Sovetsky Sojus". She was damaged by fire prior to her entry into service but was repaired and used on the Vladivostok - Kamchatka route. Still in service in 1979. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1, p.417] [ Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.4, Hamburg America Line.

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