User:Motacilla/Village

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For other steamships by the name Bretagne, see SS Bretagne.

La Bretagne before 1895
History
France
Name
  • 1886 La Bretagne
  • 1919: Alesia
Namesake
Owner
Port of registry
Route1886: Le Havre – New York
BuilderA&C de St-Nazaire Penhoët
CostFF 7,300,000
Maiden voyage14 August 1886
Identification
Fategrounded, 1923
General characteristics
Typeocean liner
Tonnage6,756 GRT, 3,100 NRT
Length495.4 ft (151.0 m)
Beam51.8 ft (15.8 m)
Depth34.5 ft (10.5 m)
Decks3
Installed power1,149 NHP
Sail plan1886: 4-masted brigantine
Speed19.57 knots (36.24 km/h)
Notessister ships: La Champagne, La Bourgogne, La Gascoigne

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Building[edit]

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Career with CGT[edit]

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Career with CGSA[edit]

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Loss[edit]

During a heavy storm she lost the tow and wrecked at Texel. The empty ship, without cargo and fuel, was thrown high onto the beach. All 13 people onboard were rescued.[1][2][3]

As the heavy ship was so high on the beach, the question was what to do with it. The municipality even considered purchasing the ship and using it as a tourist attraction. Despite the low value of the ship, a salvage contract was arranged.[4] Company named Dros made a "no cure no pay" contract to salvage the ship.[5]

The tugboats Dolfijn and Cycloop attached cables of 600 metres (2,000 ft) to the stern and were anchored in the sea. With heavy pulleys they managed to move the ship towards the sea, but only two metres (6 ft 7 in). In the meantime, after weeks of struggle, they managed to repair the engine and so the pumps and screws could work again. With the screws it was possible to dig a deep hole in the sand. The pumps moved water from one tank to another, for balancing the ship. This was important because there was a risk that the ship would break. During stormy weather, the holds were pumped full of water to prevent the ship from getting higher on the beach again.[6]

Over half a year later, at the beginning of June 1924 the ship had been pulled 50 metres (160 ft) towards the sea. On 4 June five tugboats tried to refloat the ship. A huge crowd of people came to the beach to see it happen. However the rope of Cycloop broke twice and the attempt failed. On 6 June, without an audience, they managed to refloat the ship.[6] The ship was then escorted to Nieuwediep.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Het Fransche stoomschip "Alesia"". De Standaard (in Dutch). 19 December 1923 – via Delpher.
  2. ^ "Het Fransche stoomschip "Alesia"". Algemeen Handelsblad (in Dutch). 19 December 1923 – via Delpher.
  3. ^ "De Alesia op Texel". Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 28 December 1923 – via Delpher.
  4. ^ "De stranding on 19 December 1923 en berging van de 'Alesia' in 1923 (deel I)". texelditweekend.nl (in Dutch). 25 October 2003.
  5. ^ "Texel, 22 Dec". Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 29 December 1923 – via Delpher.
  6. ^ a b "De stranding en berging van de 'Alesia' in 1923 (deel II)". texelditweekend.nl (in Dutch). 1 November 2003.
  7. ^ "Een kranig stuk werk". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 10 June 1924 – via Delpher.

Bibliography[edit]

  • The Marconi Press Agency Ltd (1914). The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony. London: The Marconi Press Agency Ltd.
  • Middlemiss, Norman (2007). French Line. Merchant Fleets. Vol. 30. Gateshead: Shield Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-871128-27-7.

External links[edit]


[[Category:1885 ships [[Category:Ocean liners [[Category:Ships built in France [[Category:Ships of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique [[Category:Ships of the Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique [[Category:Steamships of France [[Category:World War I passenger ships of France

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