On 3rd August 1941, the Finnish vessel Pamir became the only vessel ever seized as a prize of war by the New Zealand government. Finland was regarded as a ‘territory in enemy occupation’ at the time.

A four-masted barque, the Pamir was seized while in port in Wellington. Both the vessel and its cargo (guano loaded in Seychelles) passed into the possession of the Supreme Court. Ten commercial voyages were made under the New Zealand ensign before the barque was returned to its Finnish owners in 1948. Nine years later disaster struck: Pamir sank after being caught in a hurricane in the Atlantic, resulting in heavy loss of life.

The above National Publicity Studios photograph was taken circa 1947 and is captioned ‘Unloading coal from "Pamir", Wellington Wharf’.

The photo is part of a series of black and white prints which has been digitised and is available to view on Archway. Reference: AAQT 6539 W3537 33/ A1548 (R21010312) www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=21010312

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