cargo ship COUTANCES

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1947 - 1954 (en gérance)

Design features

Coutances (liberty-ship) 1947 - 1954
hull material : ...................
previous name(s) of ship : ........Katherine L. Bates
detailed type : ...................liberty-ship
type of propulsion : ..............1 propeller
building year of ship : ...........1944
name of shipyard : ................Houston Shipbldg Corporation
place of construction : ...........Houston
year of entering the fleet : ......1947
length (in meters) : ..............126,79
width (in meters) : ...............17,37
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........7245
deadweight (in tons) : ............10850
type of engine : ..................inverted, triple expansion 3 cylinders
engine power (in HP) : ............2500
nominal speed (in Knots) : ........11

History

11 cargo liners of the liberty-ship type were entrusted with management to Compagnie Générale Transatlantique before the conclusion of the Blum-Byrnes agreements of May 26, 1946. Following these agreements, the French government acquired 75 liberty-ships, of which 21 in their turn were entrusted with management to Transat, which amounts their total to 32. The deliveries spread out until 1947. These ships were used, according to the needs, on the lines of the North Atlantic, of the West Indies, of the North Pacific or the South Pacific. Between 1957 and 1960, thirteen of them were especially equipped for the transport of the Renault cars in the United States and were chartered by the Compagnie d’Affrêtement et de Transport (CAT), then sub company of Régie Renault. The first liberty-ship to leave the fleet of Compagnie Générale Transatlantique after the accident of the GRANDCAMP in 1947 was SAINT VALERY in May 1948 and the last DOMFRONT and BAYEUX in 1965. The last of the liberty-ships "ex-Transat" to disappear was ARGENTAN, demolished in 1973. Built in 1944 under the name of KATHERINE L. BATES on behalf of the U.S. Shipping War Administration. Delivered to the French government in 1947. Renamed COUTANCES and entrusted with management to Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. In 1954, is sold to a liberian shipping company and renamed MARIBLANCA. In 1967, is resold to a Greek shipping company. Retains her name. Demolished in 1969 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.