Afisha.London. Shtandart in Exile: how the replica of Peter I’s frigate came under threat of deportation from Europe

23/08/2024

In the late 1990s, a unique replica of the historic 1703 frigate “Shtandart” was built by enthusiasts with great love and expertise. The ship took part in training voyages across Europe, including in England, and since 2009, it has not entered Russian waters. However, due to recent additions to the sanctions, European ports are now refusing to accept the vessel. Afisha.London magazine explored the history of the original “Shtandart” and its replica and spoke with the captain of the modern frigate, Vladimir Martus, to learn more about life at sea and the fate of this unique historic ship.

The first sailing frigate of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Empire was built by order of Peter I in 1703, with the wooden ship designed by the Dutch-born shipbuilder Vybe Gerens. The frigate was armed with 28 cannons and had a crew of 120 men.

Interestingly, Peter’s shipbuilders drew from the expertise of two naval schools—Dutch and English. According to the captain of the replica «Shtandart», the original 1703 frigate could also be considered a replica, as Peter I modelled it on the English royal yacht Royal Transport, which he received as a gift from William III during his Great Embassy to England in 1698.

The story of the «Shtandart» continued 262 years later, when in 1992, Vladimir Martus, a graduate of the Leningrad Shipbuilding Institute, along with an initiative group, undertook the construction of a historical replica of the frigate. The ship is divided into two zones: historical and modern. Above the gun deck, elements such as the steering wheel, rudder mechanism, masts, capstans, cannons, ladders, and hatches have been preserved. Since then, Martus has served as the ship’s captain.

In 1999, the «Shtandart» was launched at the “Petrovsky Admiralty” shipyard, and in June 2000, it set off on its first voyage, following the route of the Great Embassy—the cities and countries that Peter I visited while learning the art of shipbuilding. The frigate also made an appearance in London: its first visit in 2000 was marked by a ceremonial reception hosted by Prince Andrew. In subsequent years, the «Shtandart» docked at St Katharine Docks, Royal Arsenal Pier in Woolwich, and Hermitage Pier.

According to Captain Martus, real wood was used in the construction of the ship, and much of the work was done with hand tools.

“The value of the ship lies in this: during the construction, we were able to recover lost knowledge about the technologies of that time. Now, after the ship has been sailing for 25 years, with the same crew that built it, we study how the ship’s structure is affected by time—by seawater, storms, and different operating conditions. You could say that our team has gained unique global experience: building a ship and observing the evolution of its structure daily for 25 years,” Martus explains.

There are very few authentic historical replicas of sailing ships left in the world, which is why the «Shtandart» Project considers it an important task to preserve the frigate as part of global culture in the fields of shipbuilding and seafaring.

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