cargo ship SAINTE-MèRE EGLISE

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1947 - 1948 (en gérance)

Design features

Sainte-Mère Eglise (liberty-ship) 1947 - 1948
hull material : ...................
previous name(s) of ship : ........Stephan Girard
detailed type : ...................liberty-ship
type of propulsion : ..............1 propeller
building year of ship : ...........1942
name of shipyard : ................Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation
place of construction : ...........Portland
year of entering the fleet : ......1947
length (in meters) : ..............126,79
width (in meters) : ...............17,34
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........7176
deadweight (in tons) : ............10753
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 amountstheir 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 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 1942 under the name of STEPHEN GIRARD on behalf of the U.S. Shipping War Administration. Delivered to the French government in 1947. Renamed SAINTE MERE EGLISE and entrusted with management to Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. In August 1948, is transferred to Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes. Retains her name. In 1961, is transferred to Société Navale Caennaise. Retains her name. In 1962, is sold to a shipowner of Monaco and is renamed VIMY. In 1964, is resold to a Finnish shipping company and renamed MARGRETHE PAULIN. Demolished in 1968 in Kaohsiung, in Taiwan.