NEW EAST GERMAN MERCHANT SHIP M/S STRALSUND

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006200140002-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 24, 2008
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: April 13, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/24: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006200140002-9
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DATE DISTR. 13 April 19
NO. OF PINS 1
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RIEIORT NO.
TMIIS IS UNE' LI ATED INFORMATION
Ori 3 DeeemDe 2954, t v/s L LSUND was seen
proceeding from ~Pismax in
the direction of iarnem~ends. The LS/S STRALSUThD, apparently a new
construction of about 100 GRTd had, her ridge amidsl4ps and carried
some life raft' on )sr latches. About 20persoiV were_Spea amids1ipa
on the brige, and smother 15 to 20'persons were seen near the stern.
Some of them wore hate and almost all of them carried binoculars.
appeared that the ship was on her shakedown or acceptance run.
the ship had a bad reputation
in East Gorman a sbippbW circles because she had developed en,;ine trouble
on her first, two shakedowe rune and that lar' sftle"repairs had been
neoessary. The propulsion plant al$gedly proves so defectivegalso an
her third $rtai run, that it was rumored in the-yard that the entire
plant had to be exchanged.
2,, On 5 January 1955, the STRAL9 TD,,registered in?Last Qermasg, passed
the 9ie1 CMa ,fort t time..Mit characterisios were stated to be
ae*11 we, Tonnage l,l. .gross, 436 ast, eigi al; 8oetook, ceders VEB Deutsche Seereederei, Rostock (Gearwlh
Ratio d Sea Shipping Coi atyr), .deadweight capacity 1,445 tons,
speed 11 knots, name of,ehipmaster Zeuch (fnu)', when she passed Holtenau
on 5 January 1955 on her way from Wismar to Middlesborough. She was
drawing 4.7 meters and carried 1,190tons of potash
Comm. ?/S STRAISUND was the first type-I freighter built by
thW Mathias Thesen Werft (shipyard) in Wismar. No other ships of this
type will be built.
MU4 O~esrr~
NOW 1 Oyer
Approved For Release 2008/06/24: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006200140002-9
25X1
25X1
 Approved For Release 2008/06/24: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006200140002-9
CLASSIFICATION S-E-C R &-T
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
East Germany
New East German Merchant Ship MIS STRALSUND
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION APP[CTINS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OP THE UNITED STATES. WITHIN THE MMAMINS OP TITLE IS. SECTIONS 793
AMID 704. OF THE U. S. CODE. AS ANINSID. ITS TRANSMISSION ON REVEL-
ATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OM RECOPY MY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON
IS PRONISITED BYLAW TNN REPROWCTION OF THIS PORN IS PRONISITED.
DATE DISTR. 13 April 1955
NO. OF PAGES 1
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
to A 5 Deeemter 1" 41 tlr& IR IAN w seen pr'IDeeedThg from Wismar in
the direction of Warnemuende. The M/S STRALSUND, apparently a new
construction of about 1,00 GRK, had her bridge amidships and carried
some life rafts on her hatches. About 20 persons were seen amidships
on th4 bridge, and another 15 to 20 persons were seen near the stern.
Some of them wore hats and almost all of them carried binoculars. It 25X1
appeared that the ship was on her shakedown or acceptance run.
the ship had a bad reputation 25X1
in East German shipping circles because she had developed engine trouble
on her first two shakedown runs, and that large scale-repairs had been 25X1
necessary. The propulsion plant allegedly proved so defective also on
her third trial run, that it was rumored in the yard that the entire
plant had to be exchanged.
2. On 5 January 1955, the M/S STRALSUND, registered in East Germany, passed
the Kiel Canal for the first time. Her characteristics were stated to be
as follows: Tonnage 1,106 gross, 436 net, signal letters DHWE, port of
registry Rostock, owners VEB Deutsche Seereederei, Rostock (Genwan
Nationalized Sea Shipping Company), deadweight capacity 1,445 tons,
speed 11 knots, name of shipmaster Zeuch (fnu), when she passed Holtenau
on 5 January 1955 on her way from Wismar to Middlesborough. She was
drawing 4.7 meters and carried 1,190 tons of potash
Comment. M/S STRALSUND was the first type--I freighter built by
the Mathias Thesen Werft (shipyard) in Wi:$mar, No other ships of this
type will be built.
FP
Approved For Release 2008/06/24: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006200140002-9