liner AMERIQUE

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1873 - 1895

Design features

Amerique (iron liner) 1873 - 1895
hull material : ...................iron
previous name(s) of ship : ........atlantique, impératrice eugénie
detailed type : ...................iron liner
type of propulsion : ..............1 propeller
building year of ship : ...........1865
name of shipyard : ................direction Scott
place of construction : ...........Penhoët, St Nazaire
year of entering the fleet : ......1873
length (in meters) : ..............120,00
width (in meters) : ...............13,4
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........3801
deadweight (in tons) : ............2924
type of engine : ..................inverted, compound 4 cylinders
engine power (in HP) : ............3300
nominal speed (in Knots) : ........13,2

History

Ordered under the name of ATLANTIQUE, first transatlantic liner built in France, in Penhoët. Third of a series of 8 paddle-steamers , for 3 of them in Scotland and for the 5 others with the shipyards of Penhoët recently created. Sistership: WASHINGTON (1864), LAFAYETTE (1864), EUROPE (1865), FRANCE (1865), NOUVEAU MONDE (1865), PANAMA (1866), SAINT LAURENT (1866) modified on drydock into a propeller ship. Brought into service in February 1865 on the line of Mexico under the name of IMPERATRICE EUGENIE. Renamed ATLANTIQUE in 1870, after the fall of Napoleon III. In 1873, is transformed into a propeller steamer and her hull is lengthened of 17 meters. Three masts instead of two. Renamed AMERIQUE and put back into service in January 1874 on the line Le Havre-New York. April 14, 1874, is abandoned by the passengers and the crew in full storm at approximately 100 miles of Brest, the pumps being insufficient to evacuate the water which rushed into the ship. The passengers and the crew are rescued by three other ships. Finally, she is located on April 15, always afloat, by an English steamer, towed until Plymouth then returns to Le Havre by her own means. Put back into service in March 1875. January 7, 1877, she runs aground in Seabright on the coast of the New Jersey, where she remains standstill during four months. In service in August again. In September 1886, is transferred on the line of Colon. In 1892, receives triple expansion machines. January 28, 1895, is lost by stranding on the Colombian coast.