Cape and the ship "Saratov"
It can be assumed that Liepaja was the capital of Latvia for a short period of time, because during the Freedom Struggle the Provisional Government was stationed on the ship Saratov in this very city. The Saratov took the Provisional Government to Riga after its liberation, but many people do not know that the history of such an important ship for us ended at sea at Akmenrags.
The most widely known ship that ran aground on the rocky Akmeņrags shoal and remained there forever is the steamer Saratov. This ship is historically significant for our country because during the War of Independence, the Latvian Provisional Government, led by Kārlis Ulmanis, was on board it, and it was this ship that took the Provisional Government to liberated Riga.
Saratov was built in Denmark in 1888 and first sailed under the name Leopold II. In 1911, the ship was purchased by the Russian Northwestern Shipping Company and renamed Saratov. The ship's home port was Liepāja, from where it made regular voyages to Great Britain. During World War I, the ship changed ownership several times, until Latvia returned it to the USSR after the signing of the Peace Treaty. On its last voyage, the ship sailed to Great Britain, but on its way it had to stop in Liepāja to disembark Latvian sailors. The ship was already commanded by a Soviet crew and captain, the Latvian sailors were only its passengers.
On January 14, 1923, fishermen from Pāvilosta see a steamer from the shore heading towards Liepāja, but it is going too close to the shore. The fishermen still think that if they go that way, the ship will remain on the Akmeņrags shoal… The Latvian sailors on board the ship warn the helmsman of the danger, because the Akmeņrags lighthouse is already clearly visible and the sea is calm at that time. The helmsman refuses to change the ship’s course without the captain’s knowledge, but the captain is having lunch at that time. When he finally arrives at the wheelhouse, the ship’s hull is already hitting the rocks of the shoal and it is too late to save anyone… Rescue tugs arrive from Liepāja, but a storm and snowfall begin, and they fail to pull the ship off the shoal. The next morning, the Akmeņrags lifeboat, despite the storm, manages to go out to sea twice and save those on board. Waves and a storm free the ship from the ground, but the damage to the hull is too great and the ship sinks right there. As late as 1933, the ship's chimney and masts were said to be above water, later the ship was partially blown up and the metal from it ended up in the Liepāja wire factory. However, Akmeņrags also got its share of this ship, part of its wreck is still at the bottom of the sea. It is said that the ship's helmsman, after returning to the USSR, was tried and sentenced to death for this fatal navigational error for the ship. There is no information about the further career of the ship's captain.
During the Soviet era, a Soviet army border guard unit was built and equipped near the Akmeņrags lighthouse.
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Akmeņrags Lighthouse and the fate of the "Saratov"
The Akmeņrags Lighthouse is located in Saka parish, 10 kilometres southwest of Pāvilosta. The top of the lighthouse can be reached by a spiral staircase and it offers views of the sea and the surrounding forests. Standing at 37 metres high, the current lighthouse tower was built in 1921, while the previous lighthouse was destroyed during World War I.
The Akmeņrags Lighthouse stands out among other lighthouses in Latvia, as it is located in one of the most dangerous places for sailing in the entire Baltic Sea coast. The signal beam of the lighthouse marks a rocky bank, which extends approximately two nautical miles or 3.7 kilometres into the sea in a north-western direction. The depth of the bank is just over two metres. The location of the lighthouse has remained unchanged, but the coastline has been receding over the years. Although a navigation light has been here since 1879, Akmeņrags has seen several shipwrecks. The most notable occurred in September 1923 when a Latvian steamer named Saratow struck the ground. In 1919, Saratow briefly served as the seat of the Latvian Provisional Government. Akmeņrags used to be home to a border guard post, and buildings of the Soviet Army are can be viewed here.
Berth of the ship "Saratov" in Liepaja
The berth of the "Saratov" is located in Liepaja, at 59 Old Harbour, near the boat docks.
Built in 1888 in Copenhagen by the shipyard Buvmeistar & Wain under the name "Leopold II", in 1911 it was bought by the joint-stock company Russian North-West Shipping and renamed "Saratov", with the Latvian Aleksandrs Remess becoming the ship's captain.
In May 1915, when Liepaja was occupied by German troops, the Saratov was in a damaged state in the harbour.
On 10 January 1919, the steamship Saratov was taken over by the Latvian Provisional Government. From April to July 1919, after the "16 April coup d'état", the Provisional Government headed by K. Ulmanis was on board the Saratov and was forced to take refuge under the protection of the Allied fleet.
On 8 July 1919, after the delivery of the Provisional Government of K. Ulmanis to Riga, the steamers were used for traffic between Riga, Ventspils and Liepaja.
Under the terms of the Peace Treaty of 11 August 1920 between Latvia and Soviet Russia, the steamship Saratov had to be returned to the Soviet side. On 2 January 1923, the steamship was handed over to a Soviet Russian representative. On 15 January 1923, the steamship "Saratov" was wrecked off Akmenrags.
In 1936 the Latvian Maritime Department sold the wreck to a company, which scrapped it and handed it over to the Liepaja Cloth Factory.
The actual berthing location of the ship “Saratov”
The actual berth of the ship “Saratov” is located in Liepāja, at Vecā ostmalā 59 near the boat piers, but the memorial is located in the immediate vicinity of the Liepāja special economic zone.
Built in 1888 in Copenhagen at the shipyard "Buvmeistar & Wain" under the name "Leopold II". In 1911, it was bought by the Russian Northwest Shipping Company and renamed "Saratov", with Latvian Aleksandrs Remess becoming the ship's captain.
In May 1915, when Liepāja was occupied by German troops, the “Saratov” was in the harbor in a damaged condition.
On January 10, 1919, the steamer “Saratov” was taken over for the needs of the Latvian Provisional Government. From April 1919 to July 1919, the Provisional Government led by K. Ulmanis was on board the ship “Saratov” after the “April 16 Coup”, which was forced to seek refuge under the protection of the Allied fleet.
On July 8, 1919, after the Provisional Government of K. Ulmanis was brought to Riga, the steamer was used in traffic between Riga, Ventspils and Liepāja.
According to the terms of the peace treaty between Latvia and Soviet Russia of August 11, 1920, the steamer “Saratov” had to be returned to the Soviet side. On January 2, 1923, the steamer was handed over to the representative of Soviet Russia. On January 15, 1923, the steamer “Saratov” was lost near Akmeņrags.
In 1936, the Latvian Maritime Department sold the shipwreck to a company that raised it and handed it over for scrap metal to the Liepāja Wire Factory.
