Western Union (schooner)

Western Union is the name of a schooner, built in Key West in 1939. The nearly 40 meters (130 feet) long sailing boat has a sail area of approximately 483 m² ( 5200 square feet ). The hull is built of wood. The Western Union was used from 1939 to 1974 for the Company Western Union Telegraph Company in the Caribbean and has been in use for laying telephone cables. For this purpose, the ship was also equipped with two motors to keep at sea, the position can.

After use as a cable ship, the ship from 1974 to 1984 was entertained by a group of businessmen and maritime history Learner. In 1984 it was sold and renamed " New Way ". The schooner was used in a program for problematic youth.

In 1997, the ship came to Key West again and was changed back to " Western Union". It has been used for ten years for day trips, evening cruises and private charters. Finally, the Western Union of The Schooner Western Union Preservation Society was founded, which is to maintain the ship and used to go sailing.

The Western Union is the last to be built in the United States traditional schooner, the world's last sailing ship that was used as a cable layer, and the last to be built in Key West large sailing ship. It is registered in the National Register of Historic Places since 1984.