liner PARIS

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1921 - 1939

Design features

Paris (steel mail liner) 1921 - 1939
hull material : ...................steel
previous name(s) of ship : ........
detailed type : ...................steel mail liner
type of propulsion : ..............4 propellers
building year of ship : ...........1913
name of shipyard : ................Chantiers & Ateliers de St Nazaire
place of construction : ...........Penhoët
year of entering the fleet : ......1921
length (in meters) : ..............234,15
width (in meters) : ...............26,05
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........34569
deadweight (in tons) : ............10093
type of engine : ..................direct active triple expansion Parsons turbines
engine power (in HP) : ............45000
nominal speed (in Knots) : ........21,8

History

Less fortunate than the liner ILE DE FRANCE who will take over from her as the flag-ship of the French Line, PARIS will have a commercial relatively short career within her putting into service in 1921, delayed by the first world war and her loss by fire in Le Havre (1939). She will know the first world war in a state of unfinished hull and the second world war in a state of wreck : An unique occurrence in the history of the Merchant Navy. Her building started in 1913 and was stopped by the hostilities. The liner should have entered into service in 1916, that is to say 4 years after FRANCE. The ship is launched in September 1916, then put under shelter in the bay of Quiberon till the works resumption in 1919. When put into service on the line Le Havre-New York in June 1921, she is the greatest French liner. Up to the putting into service of ILE DE FRANCE, a little bit longer and over all moderner, in 1927, she will be entirely successful. In October 1927, she runs against and sinks a Norwegian cargo ship in the roads of New York. 12 victims among the cargo crew members are to grieve over. In August 1929, she goes through a fire in Le Havre, which destroys partly her accomodations. The repairing works last 6 months. During the 30 years, PARIS is also utilized as a cruise ship. For this purpose, her hull would have been white repainted, but we have never found a photography with his livery. On April 18th, 1939, just before a new Transatlantic crossing, a fire breaks out in the ship's bakery. The works of art, intended for the New York International exhibition, are hastily withdrawn but the ship is quickly preyed upon by flames and under the weight of waterspouts discharged by the firemen, she capsized and sinks at her mooring berth, a fate that NORMANDIE will experience in February 1942. The mast and funnels are cut out to allow the liner NORMANDIE to leave her dry dock. The wreck will remain at the same place up to 1947. It will be the reason of the accident occured to the liner LIBERTE in December 1946.