Description

The Potosi was a five-masted barque built in 1895 for the German shipping company F. Laeisz, known for its fleet of "Flying P-Liners." At 132.2 meters (434 feet) in length, it was one of the largest and fastest sailing ships of its time, designed for speedy voyages between Europe and South America. The steel-hulled vessel primarily transported nitrates from Chile and was renowned for its efficiency and record-breaking passages. It was named Potosi after the rich silver mines of Potosí in Bolivia, symbolizing wealth and prosperity, which aligned with its purpose of carrying valuable cargo. Despite its success, the Potosi was sold to Argentina in 1923, renamed "Governor Luzuriaga," and later repurposed as a floating warehouse. In 1925, the ship was tragically destroyed by fire in the Rio de la Plata, marking the end of one of the most remarkable sailing vessels of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.