Complex sentence: After World War II there were few merchant sailing ships left and almost no sail training ships--the loss of the "Pamir" in 1957 and the "Albatros" in 1961 seemed to signal the end of an era.
Split into simpler sentences: After World War II there were few merchant sailing ships left and almost no sail training ships. The loss of the "Pamir" in 1957 and the "Albatros" in 1961 seemed to signal the end of an era.