tugboat MINOTAURE

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1929 - 1958

Design features

Minotaure (tugboat) 1929 - 1958
hull material : ...................
previous name(s) of ship : ........romsay
detailed type : ...................tugboat
type of propulsion : ..............2 propellers
building year of ship : ...........1918
name of shipyard : ................Ferguson Bros
place of construction : ...........Port Glasgow
year of entering the fleet : ......1929
length (in meters) : ..............53,37
width (in meters) : ...............10,4
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........889
deadweight (in tons) : ............630
type of engine : ..................2 inverted, triple expansion, 3 cylinders
engine power (in HP) : ............2500
nominal speed (in Knots) : ........13

History

Built in 1918 under the name of ROLLCALL on behalf of the English Admiralty. Two chimneys. Used as rescue ship at sea. Sold in 1922 to Alexandra Towing Co.. Renamed ROMSEY and transformed into tender. One chimney. Based in Southampton. Bought by Compagnie Générale Transatlantique in 1929. Renamed MINOTAURE and fitted with fire fighting equipment. Used as tug boat and tender in Le Havre. She is at the time, and by far, the largest tug boat of the Company. With tug boats TITAN (1894) and URSUS (1922) assists the steamer NORMANDIE (1935) after her launching. In January 1933 lends help to the steamer L'ATLANTIQUE of the Compagnie Sud-Atlantique, on fire in the English Channel. On June 11, 1940, evacuates part of the files of the Company to Saint-Nazaire then takes part on the spot in the evacuation of the British troops. To this occasion lends help to the survivors of steamer LANCASTRIA, sunk by a bomb. In the night of the 18 to 19 June, in company of TITAN and URSUS, she takes part in the towing of the battleship JEAN BART, then in course of completion. Seized by the Germans in August 1940. Thereafter, is based in Saint-Malo and is used for the supply of the Anglo-Norman islands. 26 June (July 4?) 1944, is torpedoed off Saint-Malo by a British high-speed motorboat. Runs aground on the beach of Dinard, her forepart blown away. Refloated in August 1945. Put again in service in 1948, after repairs. Sold in 1958 to Compagnie "Les Abeilles" of Le Havre. Retains her name. Sold in 1959 to a Belgian company. Demolished in Belgium in 1959 or 1963.