cargo ship BAYEUX

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1946 - 1965 (en gérance)

Design features

Bayeux (liberty-ship) 1946 - 1965
hull material : ...................
previous name(s) of ship : ........Mello-Franco
detailed type : ...................liberty-ship
type of propulsion : ..............1 propeller
building year of ship : ...........1944
name of shipyard : ................Permanente Metals Corp.
place of construction : ...........Richmond
year of entering the fleet : ......1946
length (in meters) : ..............126,79
width (in meters) : ...............17,37
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........7176
deadweight (in tons) : ............10704
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 of 75 liberty-ships, of which 21 in their turn were entrusted with management to Transat, which amounts to a 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 Renault cars in the United States and were chartered by the « Compagnie d’Affrêtement et de Transport » (CAT), then sub Compagny 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 the DOMFRONT and the BAYEUX in 1965. The last of the liberty-ships "ex-Transat" to disappear was the ARGENTAN, demolished in 1973. Built in 1944 under the name of MELLO FRANCO on account of the U.S. Shipping War Administration. Delivered to the French government in 1946. Renamed BAYEUX and entrusted with management to Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. From 1959, is used to transport Renault cars to the United States. Returned to the State May 1965 then sold to a liberian Shipping Compagny and renamed SINOE. Demolished in Castellon, in Spain, in 1969.